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Chinese vessel carrying 27 sinking in Baltic Sea
Copenhagen, May 31: A Chinese vessel was sinking in the Baltic Sea between Denmark`s Bornholm island and the Swedish coast today, following a collision with another ship, Danish navy security services (SOK) said.
Copenhagen, May 31: A Chinese vessel was sinking in the Baltic Sea between Denmark's Bornholm island and the Swedish coast today, following a collision with another ship,
Danish Navy Security Services (SOK) said.
All 27 crew members of the "Fu Shangai" were evacuated
into lifeboats within one hour of the collision which occurred
around 1030 GMT (1600 IST), they said.
"There were no victims, and all crew members on the Chinese vessel, which was transporting fertilizer, and not coal as believed earlier, are safe and sound and have been transferred onto a Danish navy rescue ship," SOK's duty officer told.
The accident occurred some four sea miles north of Borholm, and SOK said it had sent rescue boats and helicopters to the scene, as did Sweden's security services.
Security services initially feared that the Chinese 70000-tonne ship could be carrying oil, posing a major pollution risk, but this was denied by the ship's officers.
"We have not found any pollution, just some brown liquid coming out of the ship, which is likely to be just engine fuel," the duty officer said.
Half the ship's bulk had sunk by 1315 GMT (1845 IST) and its bow was below the surface, he said.
The other ship involved in the collision, a freighter from Cyprus travelling from Poland, suffered little visible damage. However, its captain decided to return to Poland for closer inspection.
There were no early indications on what caused the accident which occurred in clear hot weather and a calm sea.
Security forces said that visibility was excellent, at least seven sea miles, at the time of the collision.
Bureau Report
"There were no victims, and all crew members on the Chinese vessel, which was transporting fertilizer, and not coal as believed earlier, are safe and sound and have been transferred onto a Danish navy rescue ship," SOK's duty officer told.
The accident occurred some four sea miles north of Borholm, and SOK said it had sent rescue boats and helicopters to the scene, as did Sweden's security services.
Security services initially feared that the Chinese 70000-tonne ship could be carrying oil, posing a major pollution risk, but this was denied by the ship's officers.
"We have not found any pollution, just some brown liquid coming out of the ship, which is likely to be just engine fuel," the duty officer said.
Half the ship's bulk had sunk by 1315 GMT (1845 IST) and its bow was below the surface, he said.
The other ship involved in the collision, a freighter from Cyprus travelling from Poland, suffered little visible damage. However, its captain decided to return to Poland for closer inspection.
There were no early indications on what caused the accident which occurred in clear hot weather and a calm sea.
Security forces said that visibility was excellent, at least seven sea miles, at the time of the collision.
Bureau Report