Search for French freighter called off

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- The search for survivors of a French freighter that sank this week southeast of Newfoundland was called off Friday with no success, officials said.

None of the four crew members was found after the Cap Blanc capsized and sank Tuesday 4 miles south of Marystown. The ship was fully loaded with bags of road salt it picked up in Argentia, Newfoundland, and was headed to its home port in the French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Seas were rough and winds high when the vessel capsized, Canadian coast guard officials said.

Because no distress signal was sent, officials speculated the rollover happened quickly.

Before the Cap Blanc sank, rescue divers said they got responses from inside the ship to knocking on the hull but there was no quick way in, the report said.

An empty life raft was found after the vessel went down, searchers said.