The search for the missing crew of a French cargo ship that sank off Newfoundland has entered its third day, but hope is fading anyone will be found alive.
The Cap Blanc, which was carrying salt to the French islands of St-Pierre-Miquelon, sank Tuesday, about 16 kilometres from Marystown, N.L.
All four crew members are still missing. The only thing that has been found is an empty life vessel from the ship.
Rescuer Maj. Paul Doucette said it's a race against time for search teams.
"There's always a chance, but they're going to carry on through today, the chances aren't getting any better," he said.
Still, Doucette noted his team was investigating a report that an RCMP boat had found the missing ship, and had heard a "banging" sound emanating from the hull.
"We just know there was banging, something from the inside of the ship, but I still can't confirm it," he said.
Andy Caines, spokesperson for the rescue centre in St. John's, N.L., said a coast guard vessel searched for the Cap Blanc crew overnight, between Wednesday and Thursday.
He said searchers have had to contend with rain and snow while trying to find the crew members.
Caines said two coast guard vessels, two patrol boats and a Comorant helicopter will be involved in search efforts on Thursday.
A Hercules aircraft located the capsized bow of the ship late Tuesday morning, about half-a-day after it went missing.
Coast Guard officials say they began searching for the missing crew members 10 hours after they lost contract with the ship. They say they did not receive any distress signal from the ship.
The Cap Blanc was owned by Alliances SP and made regular runs between the St-Pierre-Miquelon islands and Newfoundland.
With files from The Canadian Press
