BERLIN, Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Several people are missing after a collision between two cargo ships in the North Sea, the rescue service of the German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said on Tuesday.
One of the ships is believed to have sunk following the accident, which happened early on Tuesday morning about 22 kilometres southwest of the island of Helgoland, the agency said.
The British-flagged Verity reportedly collided with the Bahamian Polesie at around 5 local time on Tuesday morning.
The Verity is believed to have sunk. The bigger ship, the Bahamas-flagged Polesie, remained afloat with 22 people on board.
The German coastguard said at least one person had been rescued and teams are searching for several more missing people.
The Verity was travelling from the northern German city of Bremen to Immingham in the UK when it collided with the Polesie, which had departed from Hamburg on a journey to La Coruña in Spain.
The incident happened off the coast of Heligoland, a German archipelago which is part of the state of Schleswig-Holstein.
Two sea rescue cruisers from the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS), a German navy helicopter and a water police boat are aiding in the search efforts, the DGzRS said. A cruise ship which is in the vicinity is also contributing.
Vessels supporting the rescue effort included a cruise ship, the Iona, that has doctors on board and could treat people if needed, the emergency command said. More medical personnel were being taken to the scene by helicopter.
Survivors are being given medical care.
The cause of the collision is still unclear. — NNN-AGENCIES
