Six crew members from the ship carrying more than 1,400 Mitsubishi vehicles, which sank last week in heavy seas off the Dutch coast, are still missing.

The 148m-long Baltic Ace with the Japanese models on board sank 15min after colliding with the Corvus J vessel in one of the busiest cargo lanes in the world that sees traffic of 16,500 ships pass through every year.

“It [collision] was about 60km off the Dutch south coast, it [ship] was carrying 1,417 Mitsubishi cars,” Dutch coastguard spokesman, Peter Westenberg, told just-auto from Den Helder, 80km north west of Amsterdam.

“At this moment it is in the border of a shipping lane so we have a vessel on the scene taking to other shipping, informing [them] there is a wreckage in that position. There are four buoys so everybody can see the wreckage – it will be salvaged hopefully.

The Dutch coastguard added of the 24 crew on board the Baltic Ace, six are still missing, five are dead and 13 were rescued from a life-raft and are reported to be in good condition.

“The weather was very bad,” said Westenberg. “It was a westerly wind and wave height of 4m. Where the Baltic Ace sank, it was right towards Rotterdam and Antwerp – there are about 16,500 ships that pass annual [ly].”

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The Coastguard added the Dutch Ministry of Transport would now direct salvage efforts of the wreckage.