The search and rescue operation for four crew members who went missing after a collision between two ships off the coast of Germany has been called off. The tragic incident unfolded when the British-flagged cargo ship Verity collided with the vessel Polesie around 14 miles southwest of the island of Heligoland in the North Sea at approximately 5 am on Tuesday.
At the time of the collision, there were seven individuals aboard the Verity. Regrettably, one person lost their life during the incident, while two others were rescued and promptly transported to the hospital for medical care. Following the collision, the Verity’s signal was lost.
Despite extensive search efforts that involved rescue ships and aircraft, the four missing crew members could not be located on Tuesday. Divers were dispatched to the wreckage of the Verity to search for any signs of life, but their efforts proved unsuccessful.
Officials noted that the water temperature during the incident was approximately 12°C (54°F), and historical data indicates that individuals can survive for about 20 hours in such conditions. Despite an exhaustive overnight search throughout the entire sea area where the missing sailors might be, no results were found. Consequently, the decision was made to halt the search and rescue operation.
The Isle of Man Ship Registry expressed its sadness and confirmed that the German Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre had officially called off the search and rescue efforts. The ship registry extended its heartfelt thoughts to the seafarers who were aboard the Verity, as well as their families, friends, and loved ones. It also expressed its gratitude to all those who were involved in the search and rescue operations over the past days.
The ship registry further assured the public that it would continue to work closely with the relevant authorities and provide support during the ongoing investigations into the incident.
