6 Filipino crewmen missing after Danish cargo ship sinks near Indonesia

BATAM, Indonesia—Officials say six Filipino crewmen are missing after their cargo ship collided with a chemical tanker and sank near Indonesia. Six other crew members were rescued.

Batam port official Gajah Rooseno said Thursday the Danish cargo ship Thorco Cloud collided with the chemical tanker Stolt Commitment about 8 miles (13 kilometres) off Indonesia’s Batam island late Wednesday.

Rooseno said the cargo ship had 12 crewmen from Ukraine and the Philippines and was operated by Copenhagen-based Thorco Shipping. He said the collision with the tanker operated by Stolt Tankers ripped a large hole below the water line on the cargo ship, causing it to sink.

The survivors were taken to a hospital in Singapore. Indonesian rescuers are searching for the six missing crewmen.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.