Search for missing crewman as tug sinks on Thames

Two other crew members rescued and river partially closed as vessel sinks off Greenwich pier A search is under way for a crewman missing after a tug capsized and sank on the Thames in London. The Chieftain, which had been towing a barge with a crane on it, went down off Greenwich pier, in south London, just before 11am. Two other crew members were rescued. A section of the river has been closed as the search – involving the coastguard, police, Port of London authority, fire service and lifeboat crews – continues. A Port of London Authority spokesman said: “It is believed there were three crew members on the Chieftain. Two were safely recovered and taken ashore. A major search and rescue operation is going on.” Safety measures on the Thames were tightened after the August 1989 sinking of the Marchioness, in which 51 people died when their pleasure cruiser collided with a dredger, the Bowbelle, near Southwark bridge. Improvements included the setting up of the London coastguard, who are based at the Thames Barrier navigation centre in Woolwich. The sinking follows the death on the Thames last week of Ben Woollacott, a 19-year-old crewman on the Woolwich ferry. He fell from the ferry and under its propeller while mooring ropes were being untied. He was the son of Stephen Woollacott, the owner of a Thames riverboat company. Transport for London said the Woolwich ferry would be suspended on Monday as staff attend their colleague’s funeral. Thames River Services and Crown River Cruises are also suspending services on Monday. London guardian.co.uk

Posted by on August 12, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.