The accident happened at 3.30 on Monday night. The Danish cargo vessel Karin Hoej and the British-registered Scot Carrier were then between Bornholm and Ystad.
– The British vessel has reported that they have probably collided, says communications manager Jonas Franzen at the Swedish Maritime Administration.
Shortly afterwards, it was reported that the Danish vessel had capsized.
On Monday afternoon, Swedish police report that one of two missing crew members after the accident has been found dead in the Danish cargo vessel.
– One person has been found dead, and we are looking for another person, says Elevila Olsson, press spokesperson for the Swedish police, according to Aftonbladet.
Alcohol tank
The Swedish Coast Guard suspects that the collision is due to alcohol.
According to one press release the initial investigation of the accident has been extended since it is suspected that alcohol was involved.
– There have been further suspicions of criminal acts, including gross drink-driving at sea, says Jonatan Tholin, who leads the Coast Guard’s preliminary investigations.
Scream in the water
Just over an hour after the message that the vessel had capsized, a scream was heard in the water, according to Jonas Franzen.
– We know that there were at least two people on the Danish vessel that is now lying upside down. The British vessel had a small lifeboat that they put on the water, but they found none, Franzen said.
During the day on Monday, six rescue vessels, several helicopters and two cargo ships participated in the search for the missing. The temperature in the water was around 4 degrees, and at 10.30 the search was completed.
Danish and British
Karin Hoej is registered in Denmark, 55 meters long and was built in 1977. It was on its way from Södertälje in Sweden to Nykøbing Falster in Denmark. It should not have a load.
The Scot Carrier is 90 meters long, was built in 2018 and was on its way from Salacgrīva in Latvia to Montrose in the UK. It is not known what load the ship has.
Towed ashore
No oil leak has been reported from Karin Hoej, and the Swedish Coast Guard has taken measures to prevent this from happening.
The capsized ship was towed ashore to prevent it from sinking and for divers to be able to enter the ship and search for the missing.
– It is towed towards Sandhammaren in Kåsberga, said Agne Hörnestig in the Swedish Maritime Administration.
The cause of the collision is not known, and the accident is now being investigated by Swedish police.
(©NTB)
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