A cargo ship has sunk off the coast of Germany, leaving several individuals missing. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of maritime transportation and the need for increased measures to prevent such tragedies. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the disaster and working to locate any missing crew members.
Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said that the 2001-built, 3,360-dwt general cargo ship Verity sunk after colliding with the 2009-built, 38,069-dwt bulk carrier Polesie which is still buoyant and has 22 people on board.
Incident Details
The collision happened early around 5 am local time. The German Command rescued two men from the water and provided medical care. One fatality has been confirmed. Four of the seven people that were on board are still missing. According to the Command, a number of ships are searching for the shipwreck.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Currently involved in the search are the sea rescue cruisers Hermann Marwede and Bernhard Gruben of the German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked Persons, the emergency tug Nordic, the pilot tender Wangerooge, the water police boat Sylt, and a SAR helicopter Sea King of the German Navy.
The sea rescue cruiser Anneliese Kramer is also on the way to the scene of the accident along with the Atair of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, the multi-purpose ship Mellum of the Waterways and Shipping Administration, and the water police boat W 3.
The DO228 sensor aircraft flew over the sea area to obtain further information. The cruise ship Iona, owned by P&O Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, is also in the sea area and is supporting the search so that anyone rescued can receive medical care on board the cruiser. The Command is bringing additional medical personnel to the scene of the accident by helicopter.
Vessels' Itineraries
It is worth noting that the Verity was on its way from Bremen to Immingham in Great Britain while the Polesie was travelling from Hamburg to La Coruña in Spain.
-Source(splash247)
