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Four men missing after fishing vessel capsizes off Cape Breton

Canadian Press Article online since March 28th 2008, 23:00
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HALIFAX - A search is continuing for four men after their fishing vessel capsized off Cape Breton while under tow by a Canadian Coast Guard ship.
Navy Lt. Lora Collier says the 12-metre registered fishing vessel from the Iles de la Madeleine in Quebec had a crew of six onboard when it developed a steering problem about 70 kilometres north of Cape Breton.
Collier says the vessel was being towed by CCGS Sir William Alexander to Sydney when it overturned early Saturday morning.
She described conditions at the site as being "six-tenths covered ice," meaning there is slightly more ice than open water.
Two crewmembers were rescued by another fishing boat that was nearby, and Collier says efforts are ongoing to find the other four.
"As long as there is any hope, the search and rescue operation is certainly continuing," she said.
A Hercules search-and-rescue aircraft and a Cormorant helicopter from 14 Wing Greenwood, N.S., have been dispatched to help in the search for the remaining four crewmen.
The Cormorant dropped two search and rescue personnel aboard the Sir William Alexander and later headed back to the shore to refuel.
After several hours of searching there was still no sign of the missing crewmen.
Lt. Collier says the capsized vessel has been secured to the Sir William Alexander.
It wasn't immediately known if the vessel was participating in the annual seal hunt in the area, which started on Friday morning.
About 16 boats with 100 hunters headed out from the Iles de la Madeleine at the opening of the hunt toward a large herd of seals in the Cabot Strait between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
Three sealing vessels were reported to be struggling in heavy ice conditions late Friday night off Cape Breton - two taking in some water and the other suffering mechanical problems.
A Halifax search and rescue centre official said two coast guard icebreakers were sent to try to help the three sealing vessels out of the ice.
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