A Giant Ship Goes Missing in the South Atlantic

2 sailors have been found, but Stellar Daisy's remaining crew missing
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 2, 2017 2:43 PM CDT
A Giant Ship Goes Missing in the South Atlantic
The Stellar Daisy reportedly lost contact 1,500 miles off the South American coast.   (Getty Images/LorenzoT81)

A ship that measures more than 1,000 feet long has vanished in the South Atlantic. The Stellar Daisy departed Rio de Janeiro last Sunday and was bound for China with its load of iron ore. But on Friday, while off Uruguay, the crew texted their South Korean employer to say the 266,000-ton ship was taking on water on the port side, reports Reuters. Commercial ships in the area some 1,500 miles off the coast were made aware of the situation and began searching; two Filipino crew members were found in a life raft.

But Yonhap reports that a second raft and two 30-person lifeboats were both found empty, though authorities believe the 22 missing crew members were wearing life vests. "A search operation is continuing for the 22," says a South Korean foreign ministry official. The BBC reports the Uruguayan navy has said ships participating in the search detected the smell of fuel. (More missing ship stories.)

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