A major rescue operation was underway this morning off the German coast to locate six sailors missing after two cargo ships collided, one of which sank.

The collision took place in the North Sea at around 5 am (06:00 Greek time) at a distance of about 22 kilometers southwest of the German island of Helgoland.

At least one person was rescued from the sea and is receiving first aid, while the fate of others is still unknown, according to a statement from the central administration for dealing with emergency situations at sea in Cuxhaven, northwest Germany.

Authorities said they “believe” the smaller of the two ships, the Verity, which is 91 meters long and 14 meters wide, sank. This ship, with a British flag, was sailing from Bremen to the English city of Immingham.

The second ship, 190 meters long and 29 meters wide, the “Polesie”, registered in the Bahamas, was sailing from the German port of Hamburg to La Coruña, Spain.

It was not immediately clear what kind of cargo the two ships were carrying and the cause of the collision has not yet been reported.

A rescue boat, police boats, an aircraft with special sensors and a helicopter are involved in the rescue operation.

The “Polesie”, with 22 people on board, has not sunk, according to the statement.

The cruise ship ‘Iona’, belonging to the company P&O Cruises, based in Great Britain, is also in the specific sea area and offers its assistance in the searches.

Winds of 6 Beaufort were blowing in the area, with waves in the sea reaching three meters in height.