An Israeli cargo ship, braving mountainous seas and hurricane-force winds, is attempting to rescue surviving crew members of the Philippine trawler Balsa, which foundered Tuesday in the North Atlantic, about 900 miles northeast of Boston.
A spokesman for the Zim-American Israeli Shipping Co. here told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the Zim Miami, commanded by Captain Simantov Yemini, was one of the first ships at the scene after responding to an SOS from the Balsa.
She arrived at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the position where the Balsa sank after capsizing. Eight crewmen were known dead and nine are missing. One was rescued by the U.S. Navy submarine Scamp, which also responded to the SOS.
The Zim Miami is attempting to pick up one seamen who was sighted in a lifeboat, and will search for the missing crewmen. According to reports received at the Zim Lines office here, the rescue effort is hampered by 50-foot waves and an 85-mph wind.
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