Major rescue operation launched to save crew of sinking cargo ship after vessel smashes into barge off Dover coast

A major rescue operation to evacuate crew from a sinking ship is underway in the English Channel after a 200-metre long cargo ship 'hit a barge full of rocks'.

Around 23 people are on board the vessel which has 'got into trouble' - with around half so far being evacuated using two helicopters - in the 'major incident' three miles south west of Dover near Samphire Hoe.

The ship is reported to have lost its engines and is taking on water - and called the UK coastguard at 7.20am to say "it had lost power and steering".

Unconfirmed reports say it was 'holed' in the collision with the unmanned barge.

The cargo ship is understood to be called the Saga Sky - yet to be confirmed - which carries a Hong Kong flag.


Some 11 crew members had been evacuated by 11.30am - whose nationalities are remain unknown.

The remaining 12 crew members on board are said to be "dealing with issues" - with one report at 11.45am saying it had managed to "regain some power" and was waiting for a tug to arrive 'imminently'.

The UK coastguard confirmed it was dealing with a "major incident" - and two RNLI boats have been sent to the scene.

Nobody is understood to have been on board the stone barge at the time of the collision, according to the UK coastguard.

A spokeswoman for the Marine Accident Investigation Branch confirmed at midday that it is deploying a team to Dover today "and conducting a safety investigation" into the incident - which will look into the causes.



- Mirror