5 Dec 2010

Freighter adrift in Bering Sea

3:31 pm on 5 December 2010

A disabled freighter carrying a cargo of canola seed and fuel is adrift in the Bering Sea with 20 crew on board.

The US Coast Guard said the Golden Seas issued a distress call saying it was disabled in rough seas about 96km north-west of of Adak, in Alaska.

The main engine of the Greek-owned ship reportedly failed early on Friday.

The BBC reports two Coast Guard helicopters and a plane have been sent to the scene.

The vessel is carrying 457,500 gallons of bunker oil, almost 12,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 10,000 gallons of lubricating oil.

The size of the canola cargo was unclear.

The Coast Guard said winds in the area were blowing at 72km/h, with nine metre seas.