Reuters AlertNet Lite - Swedish cargo ship capsizes in Baltic sea storm

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Swedish cargo ship capsizes in Baltic sea storm

01 Nov 2006 19:00:34 GMT
Source: Reuters

STOCKHOLM, Nov 1 (Reuters) - A Swedish cargo ship with a crew of 14 capsized on Wednesday between the islands of Oland and Gotland in the Baltic Sea, an emergency services official said, as a storm raged through the Nordic region.

Two rescue helicopters and four merchant vessels sent to rescue the crew of four Swedes and 10 Filipinos were forestalled by hard winds, heavy snow and 4.5 metre (15 feet) waves, Swedish Sea Rescue Society spokesman Peter Lindquist said.

"The helicopter crew has estimated that it is not possible to airlift anyone from the ship right now," Lindquist said.

"Right now we can't do anything but wait. If anything drastic should happen, if the ship sinks or so, we will of course have to re-evaluate," he said.

A coast guard boat was expected to reach the area around midnight, Lindquist said. He said the crew of the ship, the Finnbirch, were sitting on deck in survival suits but that it would be too dangerous to launch lifeboats in the heavy seas.

The storm was not expected to ease during the night.

Ships in the area in radio contact with the crew said the captain had broken a leg but that there were no other serious injuries.

"We received an emergency call at 15.40 (1440 GMT)," Lindquist said. "The boat is now lying on the side."

The 155-metre (508-feet) vessel, with a mixed cargo of containers, was on its way from Helsinki to Arhus in Denmark.

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Last updated:Wed Nov 1 19:02:25 2006