Vessel abandoned and drifting mid Channel

The Coastguard at Brixham has confirmed that all 20 crew have abandoned the 'Ice Prince’, which was drifting and listing at 40 degrees to port.

The stricken vessel has some navigation lights showing and some partial upper deck lights. The Coastguard helicopter to Portland airlifted twelve crew, including a 41-year-old Greek national with a broken leg, whilst the RNLI Torbay and Salcombe lifeboats took off the remaining eight crew. The vessel, which was heading for Alexandria has 5,258 metric tonnes of sawn timber on board which has shifted and the ship was listing at the time to 25 degrees. The French Coastguard tug 'Abeille Liberte' is now on scene and has taken over from the warship 'Cumberland' in standing by the vessel. There are no plans to try to put a line on the 'Ice Prince' by the tug until first light this morning. The crew of the tug is reporting to the Coastguard hourly on the vessel's condition. Some cargo has been lost to the sea but in the darkness, it is unclear as to the quantity. The French Coastguard is broadcasting warnings sea area to alert other shipping.
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