RTÉ News: Asgard II sinks off French coast

RTÉ News: Asgard II sinks off French coast: "Asgard II sinks off French coast
Thursday, 11 September 2008 10:45

The sail training vessel Asgard II has sunk 20 miles off the coast of France in the Bay of Biscay.

The ship was lost at 8.25 local time (7.25am Irish time) 20 nautical miles from the French coast, south-west of Belle-Île-en-Mer..

Asgard II had earlier been abandoned after taking water overnight.
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The alarm was raised shortly before 2.30am this morning.

The Government-owned Asgard II was heading from Falmouth in Cornwall to La Rochelle in France for minor maintenance.

On board were five crew and 20 trainees, most of them Irish.

At 2.20am, UK Marine Coastguard in Kinloss picked up a distress signal from the vessel.

It is understood the Master of the Asgard reported the ship was taking in water.

All crew and trainees took to life-rafts, and have been rescued safely by a French coastguard vessel.

They were taken to a hotel on the nearby island of Belle-Île-en-Mer.

The Irish Ambassador to France, Anne Anderson, will meet the Asgard's crew on Belle-Île later this morning.

A spokesperson from the Department of Defence said the Asgard had water up to its decks, but had not yet sunk.

The LE Niamh was on its way to offer assistance.

Commandant Fergal Purcell of the Defence"