Indonesian navy ship reported sinking off France<\/p>\n
PARIS (Agencies): Rescue helicopters plucked 38 sailors from a
\ncrew of 52 aboard an Indonesian military transport ship sinking
\nin rough seas off western France yesterday, authorities said.<\/p>\n
Naval authorities in the western Brittany port of Brest said
\nthe ship, the KRI Teluk Lampung, was sinking rapidly about 230
\nmiles off Spain's Cape Ortegal in the Bay of Biscay between
\nFrance and Spain, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n
\"Clearly it's going to sink soon,\" a spokeswoman for the Brest
\nnaval rescue station said, adding the rescue operation was
\nhampered by high winds and rough seas.<\/p>\n
In Madrid, where naval rescue services were also involved, a
\nspokesman at the State Rescue Service said 14 crew members
\nremained on board the vessel.<\/p>\n
The others were airlifted by two Spanish rescue helicopters to
\nnearby ships or to the airport in the neighboring region of
\nAsturias, he added. The crew is made up of 51 Indonesians and one
\nGerman.<\/p>\n
A Spanish rescue craft was on its way to the stricken ship to
\nhelp tow it ashore if it did not sink.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian ship began to let in water through the main
\ndoor of the prow and called for help around 4 a.m. (0200 GMT).<\/p>\n
The ship is in waters covered by the French Air Rescue
\nService, but since Spanish services were closer, their help was
\nrequested.<\/p>\n
Brest naval authorities said a French warship carrying a
\nhelicopter was also heading towards the ship.<\/p>\n
According to the Antara news agency, the KRI Teluk Lampung is
\none of the landing ship tanks Indonesia had ordered from Germany.<\/p>\n
The ship, captained by Lt. Col (Navy) Tedjo Edhy, set sail
\nfrom Neustad, Germany, along with a corvette, the KRI Imam
\nBonjol.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesian-navy-ship-reported-sinking-off-france-1447893297",
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