S Africa rescuers halt search for 26 missing sailors

JOHANNESBURG, May 7: South Africa's maritime rescue body has suspended the search for 26 crew members lost at sea last week after their bulk carrier sank off the country's eastern coast, an official today said.

''The search is suspended from our side until further information comes to light. There have been no recoveries,'' a spokeswoman for the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) told Reuters.

Six of 33 crew members on the Greek-owned Alexandros T were rescued on Wednesday night shortly after the bulk carrier ferrying iron ore sank off Port Alfred after taking in water in strong winds.

One person was rescued on Thursday.

Owners of the Alexandros T are still searching for the missing men. According to the MRCC, some empty lifejackets had been found among debris washed ashore.

Twenty-four of the crew in the 171,875 dead weight-tonnage vessel, which was built in 1989, were Filipino. Others were 4 Greeks, 4 Romanians and a Ukrainian.

The Alexandros T was transporting 155,000 tonnes of iron ore loaded in Brazil and destined for China.

REUTERS