Wallenius Marine Singapore, Ship manager and UECC, charterers of the Singapore-flagged vehicle carrier Baltic Breeze regret to report that the vessel was in contact with a Spanish fishing vessel at approximately 0100 UTC this morning April 1st, some 1.5 nm off the Port of Vigo, Spain, the company said in its press release.
It is understood that the Baltic Breeze immediately lowered a rescue boat to assist the search for survivors and that the Port authority deployed their rescue boat and helicopter. It is further reported that 5 persons were rescued from the water but there are 3 casualties and 2 persons still unaccounted for.
Baltic Breeze was not carrying any cargo at the time of the incident. She was scheduled to load cargo in Vigo and proceed to Algeria. No locally produced vehicles were planned to be loaded.
Wallenius Marine Singapore and UECC regret the loss of life from the fishing vessel and offer heartfelt condolences to the families at this tragic time.
All involved parties will be co-operating fully with the authorities investigating this incident.