Freighter Goes Down With Crew Of 20

A Cyprus-registered freighter sank in heavy seas off the Norwegian coast Saturday, and all 20 Polish crewmen were missing and feared dead.

Ships and a helicopter searching the waters in near-gale conditions spotted air bubbles from the sunken ship, debris, two empty life rafts, life preservers and the ship’s nameplate, said Anders Bang-Andersen of the Norwegian rescue center.

The ship apparently went down quickly in the icy, 850-feet deep waters of the North Sea.

Despite more than eight hours of searching, no trace of survivors was found and rescue efforts were scaled down when darkness fell. One Norwegian coast guard vessel remained at the scene through the night.

“We’ll still search, but considering that they have been missing since this morning, we’re not optimistic,” said rescue center spokeswoman Eldbjorg Vaage.

The captain of the 22,000-ton Leros Strength radioed for help just before 8 a.m. Saturday, saying it was taking on water.

“He said there was damage to the bow, and that the ship was taking in water and needed help. Then something must have happened to the ship, because while we were talking the connection was broken,” Bang-Andersen said.