Three missing after North sea collision

Three sailors are reported missing after their boat sank, having collided with a fishing boat in the North Sea on Monday morning, said a spokesman for the Dutch coastguard. The accident occurred Monday at 01.30 after a collision between the fishing boat Texel 68 (pictured) and the 32-metre-long Maria, a ship patrolling the waters around an oil drilling platform located about 40km south west of Den Helder harbour. "We rushed to the scene to save the two boats, and other vessels were involved in the search, as well as a helicopter ," spokesman Peter Westenberg told AFP. Five seamen were aboard the Maria when the collision with the Texel 68 occurred, for an unknown reason. The Maria sank soon after, according to the spokesman. "Two crew members were rescued , but the other three are still missing," he said. "Their nationality is unknown at this time," added the spokesman. The worst maritime accident in the area took place in December last year when a cargo ship collided with a car carrier ship near Rotterdam, killing 11 seamen.