Two cargo ships, the British-flagged Verity and the Bahamas-flagged Polesie, collided in the North Sea on October 24, 2023. The location of the accident was about 19 miles northeast of Langeoog island, Germany.
Following the collision, the Verity sank. It had been en route from Bremen, Germany, to Immingham, UK. There were seven crew members aboard the Verity. Two were saved and are now in stable health, while the whereabouts of four others remain unknown. One crew member was found but did not survive. The conditions for the search were tough due to waves reaching 10 feet and winds blowing at 30 mph.
After the collision, German rescue teams started searching for the missing Verity crew members. They sent divers to look at the sunken ship, which is believed to be resting around 100 feet below the sea’s surface. However, strong water currents and poor sight conditions have made the search difficult.
At a press conference in Cuxhaven, Germany, Robby Renner of Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies spoke about the efforts. He said they are trying their best to find more survivors. Michael Ippich of the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service commented that, considering the 54°F water temperature, the chance to survive might be up to 20 hours.
The other ship involved, the Polesie, didn’t have any damage, continuing on to Cuxhaven, Germany. It had started its trip in Hamburg, Germany, and was headed to La Coruña, Spain. All of the Polesie’s 22 crew members were unharmed.
Currently, the exact cause of the collision is not known and an investigation is underway.
Several other vessels, including the cruise ship Iona, helped in the rescue efforts. The Iona, which was traveling from Hamburg, Germany, to Rotterdam, provided medical help to the sailors saved from the Verity.
The search for the missing sailors went on all day but was stopped on October 25. With the cold water and the time that has passed, the chances of finding the sailors alive are low. Many are now waiting for more information on the accident and what happens next.