Eight crew missing after cargo ship sinks

Eight crew members of a cargo ship are missing after their vessel sank in stormy seas between Sicily and Malta on Sunday night.

The Armed Forces of Malta was called in to coordinate the search after the 75-metre Tor 1 went down in force 8 winds.

The ship, which was transporting timber, was on its way to Sfax in Tunisia.

Malta Radio was alerted about the accident on Sunday night, incidentally by Tor 1's sister ship, the Tor 2, which was in the vicinity.

As soon as the report was made that the merchant vessel was sinking some 180 nautical miles west of Malta, the AFM started to coordinate a rescue operation with officials in Rome.

Five merchant vessels which were close to the scene proceeded to the area to render assistance.

An Italian Navy helicopter was also dispatched from Catania, while the AFM's Islander aircraft was yesterday afternoon also sent to assist.

A US warship proceeded to the area and was assigned the duties of 'on scene coordinator' by the AFM. A US Navy fixed wing aircraft based at Sigonella, also participated in the search.

Yet, despite the concerted effort, no traces of the vessel or survivors were found, although the Italian newspaper La Sicilia reported that a German vessel, the Hermann Aldendork, had traced an empty lifeboat.

"The rough weather conditions were making the rescue operation a difficult one indeed," sources close to the operation said.

The sources said it appeared likely that the crew of Syrians and Libyans, did not have enough time to take to their lifeboat.

One of the theories being considered which could have led to the sinking is a sudden displacement of the cargo as a result of the rough seas.

The Tonga-registered ship, built in 1972, was owned by a Turk. It was transporting hundreds of tree trunks.

The search is scheduled to carry on today.