abandoned their Panamanian-registered freighter after she began sinking 400 miles northeast of the Island.

A Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC) Bermuda spokesman said a United States Coast Guard C-130 plane would be landing at the airport overnight to refuel as the potential saviours sped toward the 776-foot Leader L , which sent out a distress call around 2.30 yesterday afternoon.

The bulk carrier sank around 8 p.m. last night after water flooded through a 45-foot gash in the starboard side in her hull.

The RCC spokesman said the C-130 had confirmed seeing lights from the ship's two lifeboats, which can take 20 people each, at 9.30 p.m. although it was not known if all the crew managed to escape safely.

He explained that the Liberian ship Knock Stocks was the closest ship, about 120 miles away, and was expected to reach the sinking vessel late last night.

Rescue launched for tanker crew And he added that four Sea King rescue helicopters, followed by a four ship Canadian Navy task force, were also flying toward the Leader L , expected to arrive at the site by midnight.

Two C-130 planes were dispatched by the US Coast Guard, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and from Canadian Forces Base in Greenwood, Nova Scotia for support reconnaissance.

The RCC spokesman said he did not know how the Leader L sustained the damage although he added there were fifteen-foot seas and 25-knot winds in the area.

The vessel, owned by the Greek firm Leoninus Shipping, was carrying salt from Spain to New York when the incident happened.

A United States Coast Guard press release said Knock Stocks participates in the Automated Mutual-assistance Vessel Rescue system; a unique, computer based and voluntary global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to persons in distress at sea.