2023 Heligoland ship collision

On 24 October 2023, one person was killed and four others disappeared after two cargo ships, the British-flagged Verity (2,601 tonnes, 91 meters)[1] and the Bahamian-flagged Polesie (24,055 tonnes, 190 meters),[2] collided in the North Sea near the Heligoland islands, with the Verity sinking.[3][4]

The Polesie in 2016
The Verity in 2020

Background

The Verity was on its way to the UK, carrying steel from the northern German city of Bremen to Immingham in Lincolnshire, England, when it collided with the Polesie, which had departed from Hamburg, northern Germany, on a journey to La Coruña in northwestern Spain.[5] Authorities mentioned strong winds in the area.[6]

P&O Cruises confirmed that a ship in their fleet, the Iona, had been in the area and was involved in the subsequent search.[7] None of the 22 crew on the Polesie was reportedly injured.[8] The German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies, which deployed two sea rescue cruisers and coordinated a German Navy helicopter and a water police boat,[9] rescued two survivors.[10] One of the Verity's crew was found dead in the water; the remaining four of an original total of seven crew are missing. A search was called off the next day.[9]

See also

References
  1. "VERITY General Cargo Ship, IMO 9229178". www.vesselfinder.com. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  2. "POLESIE Bulk Carrier, IMO 9488097". www.vesselfinder.com. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  3. Davies, Caroline (2023-10-24). "One dead and four missing after British cargo ship sinks in North Sea". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  4. "One dead after ships collide in North Sea". BBC News. 2023-10-24. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  5. "Germany: North Sea ship collision leaves 1 dead, 4 missing – DW – 10/24/2023". dw.com. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  6. "One dead, four missing after freighters collide in North Sea". Reuters. 2023-10-24. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  7. "Body recovered and two rescued after British cargo ship sinks - four people are still missing". Isle of Wight Radio. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  8. "One dead after ships collide in North Sea". BBC News. 2023-10-24. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  9. "North Sea search abandoned for four missing on British ship Verity". www.bbc.com. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  10. "One dead and four missing after cargo ship sinks in North Sea". STV. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
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