Six People Rescued from a Stricken Cargo Vessel

The Royal Navy has rescued six people from a stricken cargo vessel after responding to a mayday call on Sunday morning.

Patrol vessel HMS Tyne, which had been operating nearby, and a Sea King rescue helicopter from Royal Naval Air Squadron Culdrose sped to the aid of the MV Sea Breeze which had started to sink 10 miles off the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall.

Five crew members were winched off the vessel by the helicopter from 771 Squadron and were taken ashore by two boats from the RNLI. The Master of the MV Sea Breeze was taken to HMS Tyne to assist with the salvage operation.

Attempts were also made to try and pump water out of the ship by both 771 and HMS Tyne, but efforts were hampered by the speed of the incoming water. The flooding is believed to have begun following a mechanical defect.

The MV Sea Breeze has now been towed into St Austell Bay where divers will be sent in to assess the damage.

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March 10, 2014