Ship collision sinks vehicle carrier in the North Sea

Cargo ship Baltic Ace carrying cars and a crew of 24 has sunk near the port of Rotterdam according numerous reports. Sources are saying some sailors have been found in life rafts with helicopter rescues still taking place. BBC reports that three fatalities have been confirmed with eight people still missing. The vehicle carrier sailing under Bahamian flag was headed to Kotka, Finland when it collided with container ship Corvus J, which is also damaged but not in any immediate danger. The quite new 148 metre long Baltic Ace vessel had a beam of 25 metres and could carry up to 2132 cars. It was Finnish-Swedish ice class 1A classified by Det Norske Veritas.