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Timber ship sinks in rough seas Timber ship sinks in rough seas
(about 3 hours later)
A stricken cargo ship has sunk in rough weather off the Devon coast, the Coastguard has said. A stricken cargo ship has sunk in rough weather off the Devon coast, coastguards have said.
The Greek-registered Ice Prince went down about 26 miles off the Portland Bill after shedding most of its load of 5,260 tonnes of timber. The Greek-registered Ice Prince went down about 26 miles (42km) off Portland Bill after shedding much of its load of nearly 5,260 tonnes of sawn timber.
A coastguard spokesman said the ship had sunk at about 0045 GMT after being monitored throughout the night by a French Coastguard tug and another tug. Twelve of the crew were airlifted to Portland and eight others taken by the Torbay lifeboat to Brixham after it got into difficulties on Sunday night.
The 328ft vessel had sent out emergency calls after getting into difficulties. A counter-pollution aircraft is being sent to the scene to survey the area.
Waves had reached 9ft and there were strong winds in the area. A coastguard spokesman said the ship had sunk at about 0045 GMT on Tuesday after being monitored throughout the night by two tugs.
Twelve of the crew had been airlifted to Portland by a coastguard helicopter and eight others were taken by the Torbay lifeboat to Brixham after it got into difficulties on Sunday night. Waves had reached 9ft (2.7m) and there were strong winds.
A coastguard spokeswoman said the vessel's stern was now on the bottom and the bow above the water. We probably have a bigger problem now than we had yesterday Donald MacDonald Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Salvors are aboard both tugs, and coatsguards are warning other approaching shipping of hazards in the area. The Ice Prince, which weighs 6,395 tons and is 328ft in length, sent out its initial emergency call at 1900 GMT on Sunday.
There were reports that just before the sinking, further deck cargo was lost to the sea and the angle of the ship's listing had increased. Rescuers battled gale force winds and rough seas with 16ft (5m) swells to evacuate the men from the vessel in a mission one lifeboatman described as a "once-in-a-career" rescue.
Visibility was said to be "very poor". It is understood Ice Prince's crew were all foreign nationals and were wearing lifejackets and immersion suits when rescued.
The vessel was carrying 5,258 tonnes of sawn timber. More than 2,000 tons was being carried on the deck.
The vessel was also carrying an estimated 313 tonnes of fuel oil and other lubricating oils in its engine spaces.
Shoreline impact
Donald MacDonald from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said the position the vessel had come to rest in could cause problems in its recovery.
"Currently she's positioned with the stern settling on the sea bed and her bow out of the water, so we probably have a bigger problem now than we had yesterday," he said.
"The conditions overnight didn't help. We've lost the desk cargo so we've a raft of timber at sea and contingencies will be put in place to recover that.
"It's now a case of getting insurers and salvors together in a meeting this morning to plan the way ahead."
Coastguards said police forces were aware of the sinking but any impact on the shoreline could take some days.