Canadian student ship sinks off Brazil, 64 rescued

A Brazilian Navy spokesman said 64 peoplewere rescued after the three-masted tall ship Concordia sank.

RIO DE JANEIRO, February 19, 2010 (AFP) - Dozens of Canadian students have been plucked safely from the South Atlantic Ocean after their class-at-sea sailing ship sank of the coast of Brazil, authorities said Friday.

A Brazilian Navy spokesman said 64 people, most of them students from Canada's West Island College, were rescued after the three-masted tall ship Concordia sank 300 nautical miles (550 kilometers) off the Brazilian coast southeast of Rio de Janeiro on Thursday.

"The navy received a distress call from the ship and sent reconnaissance aircraft," the spokesperson told AFP. "Sixty-four students, teachers and crew members have been rescued" and are in good health.

West Island College Class Afloat program, based in the Canadian Atlantic province of Nova Scotia, said in a statement on its website that 64 person were aboard.

"All persons on board the Concordia have been accounted for," it said. "This message has been confirmed by our captain."

The 57-meter (187-foot) barkentine left Recife in northeastern Brazil on February 8 and was en route to the Uruguayan capital Montevideo, where it was due to arrive February 25, as part of a 10-month voyage.

The 48 passengers in life rafts were picked up by a passing merchant vessel, and two other commercial ships raced to the area.

Class Afloat offers students high school and university credits for embarking on a long voyage visiting 30 ports in at least 20 countries.

Leaving Nova Scotia in September last year, the Concordia -- designed and built in 1992 specifically for Class Afloat -- had already travelled to Europe and Africa.

"We are in constant contact with the Canadian and Brazilian rescue authorities and have been in touch with the families of those on board the Concordia," organizers said.

"All necessary assistance will be provided to ensure that they are properly taken care of and safely repatriated as soon as practicable."