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Crew airlifted from listing ship Tow plan for stricken cargo ship
(40 minutes later)
Twenty crew have been rescued after a cargo ship got into difficulties about 35 miles off the coast of Devon. Coastguards have said attempts will be made later to tow back to shore a cargo ship from which 20 crew were rescued off the Devon coast on Sunday night.
The Greek-registered Ice Prince, which is carrying 5,260 tonnes of timber, is now drifting in the English Channel. The crew members were rescued after the Greek-registered Ice Prince got into difficulties about 35 miles off the Start Point.
MCA spokesman Fred Caygill said salvors were on the way to the vessel which is carrying 5,260 tonnes of timber.
Mr Caygill said it had not been decided where the stricken ship will be taken.
"It depends where we can get her in," he said.
Twelve of the crew were airlifted to Portland by coastguard helicopter and eight others were taken by the Torbay lifeboat to Brixham.Twelve of the crew were airlifted to Portland by coastguard helicopter and eight others were taken by the Torbay lifeboat to Brixham.
A tug has come alongside and an assessment is to be made whether the ship can be brought under tow.
'Dark on board''Dark 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 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, 35 miles south east of Start Point. Crew reported that the ship, which was heading for Alexandria in Egypt, 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".
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 was nearby, offered its assistance.
The crew are all volunteers and you can only imagine how hard this rescue was Spencer Gammond, RNLI Crew tells of 'difficult' rescueThe crew are all volunteers and you can only imagine how hard this rescue was Spencer Gammond, RNLI Crew tells of 'difficult' rescue
The stricken vessel, which was heading for Alexandria in Egypt, is now listing at 25 degrees and drifting without power. The MCA said the seas were rough and the winds were up to force 7, but there were no reports of any cargo being lost.
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. Mr 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.
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."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.""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."