One dead, four missing after freighters collide in North Sea of Germany

BERLIN, 25th October, 2023 (WAM) — One body has been recovered, two people have been rescued, and four are missing after two freighters collided in the North Sea off the coast of Germany, Reuters reported, citing the maritime emergency authority on Tuesday.

The Verity, which the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said had sunk, had been on its way from Bremen to the English town of Immingham with seven crew members on board. The Polesie was sailing from Hamburg to La Coruna in Spain.

The four missing crew members may be alive and sheltering inside the vessel on the sea floor, a spokesperson said during a press conference later, adding a team of divers was looking for signs of life.

The Verity was carrying steel and had 1,300 cubic metres of diesel on board, the spokesperson added.

The ship collided with the Polesie at around 0300 GMT about 12 nautical miles (22 kilometres) southwest of Germany’s Heligoland archipelago.

The Polesie had 22 people on board, none of whom were injured, the central command said.