2800 cars lost as cargo ship sinks

Published on Saturday 14 December 2002 00:00

A CARGO ship carrying more than 2800 new cars has sunk after colliding with another vessel in the fog-bound English Channel.

The Tricolor, a Norwegian-registered car carrier, collided with The Kariba, a container ship, 30 miles east of Ramsgate. The Tricolor had picked up its cargo in Zebrugge, Belgium and was on its way to Southampton, said Per Ronnevig, spokesman for its owners, shipping firm Wilhelmsen Lines.

Mr Ronnevig said, "We do not yet have a figure for the value of the cargo. We are working on the figures now. It will be several million dollars certainly."

A spokesman for Dover Coastguard said the crew of the Tricolor were forced into lifeboats and picked up. The Kariba, which was severely damaged, was making for port this morning, with the crew believed to still be on board.

Dover Coastguard said a Belgian warship was in the area, helping the French coastguard deal with the incident.

A spokesman for the French coastguard said 24 crew of the Tricolor were rescued and are now "safe and sound". He confirmed that the Norwegian vessel had sunk.

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesman said the collision occurred in thick fog.

"The car carrier quickly developed a 15 degree list and its crew abandoned the vessel to a lifeboat," he said.

"Another vessel picked them up. The Kariba is now making its way to a continental port.

"A Belgian warship, the Wandelaar, is standing by locally and is acting as on-scene co-ordinator for the French Coastguard."

The Coastguard Emergency Towing Vessel Far Turbot was heading for the scene today, along with other tugs.

The Kariba is a 175 metre, 20,829-ton cargo vessel and the Tricolor a 49,792-ton, 190-metre car carrier.

The crew of the Tricolor were taken to Dunkirk, said the French coastguard. The ship is resting on the bottom of the sea, but as the tide is low it is only partially submerged.