According to reports, a British cargo vessel has sunk near the coast of Germany following a collision in the North Sea. It is suspected that multiple individuals are currently unaccounted for.
According to Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies, the Verity, a ship with a British flag, and the Polesie, a ship with a Bahamas flag, crashed on Tuesday morning approximately 13 miles southwest of Helgoland Island.
According to preliminary reports, the Verity has sunk.
The emergency team reported that one individual was saved from the water and is currently receiving medical attention. Efforts are underway to locate multiple others who have not been located.
According to the information, Verity was traveling from Bremen to Immingham, a port located in north-east Lincolnshire.
The Polesie, rumored to have been en route from Hamburg to La Coruña in Spain, managed to stay afloat despite having 22 individuals on board.
The emergency command stated that multiple ships were scouring the area for survivors.
According to a report from Bild newspaper, six individuals were reported as missing.
Germany’s transportation minister, Volker Wissing, stated that the emergency services are making every effort to save those who are missing.
I am thinking of the crew members, their loved ones, and the rescue teams who have been working since early this morning.
The Verity was the shorter ship, measuring at 91 meters (equivalent to almost 300 feet), in contrast to the Polesie’s length of 190 meters.
According to initial reports, a helicopter, two rescue ships, an emergency tug, a pilot boat, and a police patrol boat are assisting in the search efforts.
The P&O cruise ship Iona departed from Southampton three days ago and is currently on a voyage to Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Bruges in Belgium. According to reports, the ship has now joined the search for any survivors. The emergency team has announced that those involved in the accident can receive medical treatment on the cruise ship.
The statement also mentioned the use of a sensor-equipped aircraft to gather further details about the location of the Verity in the sea.
According to reports, the search is facing difficulties due to strong winds of 30mph and waves reaching 10ft.
A representative from P&O Cruises stated that the ship Iona is currently participating in a rescue mission near the coast of Germany. The situation is still ongoing and Iona’s actions are in accordance with global maritime regulations and align with the company’s ethical and legal responsibilities.
Iona is set to sail today and this should not affect tomorrow’s planned stop in Rotterdam or the rest of the journey.
Source: theguardian.com
