Several people are missing after two cargo ships collided off the German coast in the North Sea, maritime rescue services in the north-western town of Cuxhaven said on Tuesday.
One of the two cargo ships is presumed to have sunk, they said, adding that several rescue vessels were currently searching for the shipwrecked crew.
The collision occurred off the German coast at around 05:00 am (local time), 22 km southwest of the German island of Helgoland.
The maritime authorities say they "presume" that the smaller of the two ships, the Verity, which is 91 metres long and 14 metres wide, sank. This British-flagged vessel was en route from Bremen (Germany) to Immingham (Great Britain).
The second, 190 metres long and 29 metres wide, named the Polesie, flying the Bahamas flag, came from the German port of Hamburg and was heading for La Coruña in Spain.
"Several people are missing," said the Cuxhaven rescue service in a statement, which added that several rescue vessels were currently searching for the shipwrecked crew.
