2 merchant vessels collide in Bay of Biscay

Falmouth Coastguard control room Falmouth Coastguard co-ordinated a rescue operation of the vessels The crew of a cargo ship has been rescued after a collision with another vessel in the Bay of Biscay, about 250 miles (402km) south west of Land's End. The Florence and the chemical tanker Aphrodite collided at about 03:30 GMT, Falmouth Coastguard said. The seven crew of the Florence abandoned ship, taking to two life rafts, before being rescued by a container ship, the Ocean Titan. The crew of the Aphrodite were able to remain on board their vessel. Collision admission After the the collision, an emergency beacon went off, informing Falmouth Coastguard the vessel was sinking. The Cornish station contacted the nearest ship, which was the Aphrodite, which admitted there had been a collision and it was involved, Falmouth Coastguard said. Falmouth Coastguard helped co-ordinate the rescue operation with Spanish counterparts to rescue the crew of the Florence, a mix of Russians, Polish and Ukrainians. After the Ocean Titan picked up the two life rafts, all of the Florence's crew were reported as being safe and well, Falmouth Coastguard said. Spanish coastguards also sent a helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft to the scene. The Aphrodite was not reported as taking on water.