The search for seven missing crew members of a freighter that sank after colliding with a container ship in the North Sea was halted early Thursday because of bad weather, dpa the Netherlands Coastguard as saying. The search, which was stopped about 2 am (0100 GMT) would resume at daylight but the chances of survival for the missing were considered near zero, authorities said. Twenty-four people were on board the Bahamas-flagged Baltic Ace during the collision Wednesday night off the south-western province of Zeeland. Thirteen were rescued, and four bodies were recovered, the coastguard said. The Cypriot container ship Corvus J received minor damage in the accident, which occurred in one of the busiest sea lanes in the North Sea.
