Seven Crew Rescued After Cargo Ship ‘Fluvius Tamar’ Sinks in North Sea

M/V Fluvius Tamar (ex-Abis Albufeira). Photo: MarineTraffic.com/Arno Brugmann

The UK Coastguard coordinated an extensive search and rescue effort overnight after a 90-meter cargo ship sank in the North Sea approximately 35 nautical miles northeast of Ramsgate, England.

All seven crew members were rescued safely after abandoning ship in the dark.

France’s Préfet Maritime reported that the Barbados-flagged M/V Fluvius Tamar sank at about 1 a.m. in British waters north of Dunkirk. The vessel lies at a depth of about 40 meters.

Steve Carson, UK Coastguard Duty Commander, provided some more details on the incident: “Following a MAYDAY broadcast from the sinking vessel, we sent multiple assets to the scene to rescue the crew who abandoned ship. The weather on scene has been challenging but we are pleased to report that all the crew have been rescued and are on their way to hospital.”

The ship was carrying 3,800 tonnes of Magnesium oxide and 80 cubic meters of diesel fuel, the Préfet Maritime reported.

A reconnaissance flight early Saturday morning observed no pollution.

According to AIS data the vessel was sailing from the Netherlands to Spain.

The Coastguard said search and rescue helicopters from Lydd and Lee-on-Solent, a RNLI all-weather lifeboat from Ramsgate, a Dutch search and rescue helicopter, and multiple merchant vessels assisted in the search and rescue effort.

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