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Crew airlifted from listing ship Crew airlifted from listing ship
(about 5 hours later)
Twenty crew have been rescued from a cargo ship which got into difficulties about 35 miles off the coast of Devon. Twenty crew have been rescued after a cargo ship got into difficulties about 35 miles off the coast of Devon.
The Greek-registered Ice Prince, which is carrying 5,258 tonnes of timber, is drifting in the English Channel. The Greek-registered Ice Prince, which is carrying 5,260 tonnes of timber, is now drifting in the English Channel.
Twelve of the crew have been airlifted to Portland by coastguard helicopter. One person is being treated in Dorset County Hospital with a broken leg. Twelve of the crew were airlifted to Portland by coastguard helicopter and eight others were taken by the Torbay lifeboat to Brixham.
The eight remaining crew were taken by the Torbay lifeboat to Brixham, where they have been landed safely. A tug has come alongside and an assessment is to be made whether the ship can be brought under tow.
Coastguards at Falmouth say the situation remains on-going, as the vessel is currently drifting. 'Dark on board'
A tug has come alongside and an assessment will be made at first light whether the ship can be brought under tow.
'Darkness on board'
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said an emergency call was made from the Ice Prince at about 1900 GMT on Sunday.The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said an emergency call was made from the Ice Prince at about 1900 GMT on Sunday.
Crew reported that the ship was rolling heavily in very poor weather. Crew reported that the ship was rolling heavily in very poor weather, 35 miles south east of Start Point.
At 2015 GMT, the MCA said the coastguard received word that a 41-year-old Greek crewman "was in need of urgent medical attention after he had broken his leg in the darkness on board the vessel".At 2015 GMT, the MCA said the coastguard received word that a 41-year-old Greek crewman "was in need of urgent medical attention after he had broken his leg in the darkness on board the vessel".
The crew are all volunteers and you can only imagine how hard this rescue was Spencer Gammond, RNLI RNLI lifeboats from Salcombe and Torbay were launched and the Royal Navy warship HMS Cumberland, which was nearby, offered its assistance.
RNLI lifeboats from Salcombe and Torbay were launched and the Royal Navy warship HMS Cumberland, which is nearby, offered its assistance. The crew are all volunteers and you can only imagine how hard this rescue was Spencer Gammond, RNLI class="" href="/1/hi/england/devon/7186558.stm">Crew tells of 'difficult' rescue
A French coastguard tug is also on its way to the scene from Cherbourg. The stricken vessel, which was heading for Alexandria in Egypt, is now listing at 25 degrees and drifting without power.
The stricken vessel, which was heading for Alexandria in Egypt, is said to be listing at 25 degrees and drifting without power. The MCA say the seas were rough and the winds were up to force 7, but there are no reports of any cargo being lost.
The MCA say the seas are rough and the winds are up to force 7, but there are no reports of any cargo being lost. MCA spokesman Fred Caygill said: "Twelve crew were airlifted by the Coastguard helicopter late yesterday evening to the shoreline whilst the RNLI Torbay and Salcombe lifeboats took off the remaining eight crew.
"No further injuries apart from a few bumps and bruises have been reported.
"The crew taken off by helicopter have been found some accommodation locally whilst the injured man has been taken to Dorchester Hospital."
Spencer Gammond, from the RNLI, said lifeboat crews operated "at the very limit" to evacuate the ship.Spencer Gammond, from the RNLI, said lifeboat crews operated "at the very limit" to evacuate the ship.
"To stage a rescue like this they would have needed to position their lifeboat right next to the ship and take the crew off one by one," Mr Gammond said."To stage a rescue like this they would have needed to position their lifeboat right next to the ship and take the crew off one by one," Mr Gammond said.
"Our lifeboat is 17m long and the ship they were helping was more than 100m long, had no power and was listing in force 7 winds."Our lifeboat is 17m long and the ship they were helping was more than 100m long, had no power and was listing in force 7 winds.
"The crew are all volunteers and you can only imagine how hard this rescue was.""The crew are all volunteers and you can only imagine how hard this rescue was."