A Danish container ship has capsized with two crew members missing after it collided with a cargo ship in the Baltic Sea.
The ship, the Karin Hoej, collided with the British-flagged container vessel the Scot Carrier in the early hours of Monday 13 December, between the Swedish town of Ystad and the Danish island of Bornholm.
The Swedish Maritime Administration confirmed some members of the British crew onboard the Scot Carrier were being investigated over allegations of drunkeness.
Last week a Russian cargo ship was detained in Poland when its crew was found to be intoxicated after an accident was narrowly avoided.
The Swedish Maritime Administration confirmed it received an emergency call at around 3:30am local time regarding the collision. It said: “The cause of the collision is not yet clear.”
A spokesperson for the Swedish Sea Rescue Society told Supply Management: “A preliminary investigation regarding gross negligence in maritime traffic is being conducted under the direction of prosecutors.
“The NGO-organisation Swedish Sea Rescue Society participated in the rescue (with two rescue units) along with the Swedish Coast Guard and the Swedish Maritime Administration, who led the operation.
“The search operation in the open sea ended at 10:30, and now it is instead a matter of working to tow the Danish ship closer to land. When this is done, divers will search the ship. The Rescue vessel Rescue Gad Rausing towed the vessel to more shallow waters together with the Swedish Coast Guard to to simplify the diving operation.”
They continued: “It is too early to say exactly how the course of events took place and how it could all happen.”
The ship has been towed towards land to assist in the search for the missing crewmen and to prevent it sinking.
The Swedish Coast Guard has three vessels on site to help with rescue efforts and to prevent oil or other harmful substances being released into the sea.
“There are currently no ongoing oil spills,” it said.
The Scot Carrier recently left Salacgrīva, in Latvia, and was bound for Montrose in Scotland. The Karin Hoej was travelling between the Swedish city of Södertälje and the city of Nykøbing Falster in Denmark.
The Danish ship was expected to arrive in Nykøbing Falster at midday on Tuesday, while the Scot Carrier was due to reach Montrose at 5pm on Wednesday, according to Vessel Finder.
Scotline Ltd, which owns the Scot Carrier, has been asked for comment.
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