Efforts were continuing last night to locate two missing Ukrainian crew members from a Saint Vincent-flagged cargo ship that sank off the coast of Crete yesterday morning, after rescuers pulled out eight sailors safely.

The 70-meter-long Sea Ray, which was loaded with containers, had been sailing from Turkey to Libya and sent out a distress signal before dawn when it was some 160 kilometers south of the island, the Merchant Marine Ministry said. The ship, which had suffered engine failure, listed after taking on water. Gale-force winds were also blowing in the area.

An immediate rescue operation was launched, involving an army transport plane, a helicopter, a navy ship and a NATO frigate. However, it was sailors from one of three nearby merchant ships that rushed to the scene who managed to pull out the eight crew members, all Ukrainians.