3 missing after boats collide off Mississippi coast

By the CNN Wire Staff

Three missing after boats collide

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Two ships collide in the Gulf of Mexico
One of the vessels -- a fishing boat -- sank
Three people are missing, the Coast Guard says

(CNN) -- Members of the U.S. Coast Guard were searching Thursday for three people who were reported missing after two boats collided in the Gulf of Mexico.

Crews in boats and helicopters were looking for three people who were aboard the Sandy Point, a 163-foot fishing vessel that collided at about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday with the Eurus London, a 660-foot container ship, said Lt. Israel Parker of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The accident occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, a few miles off the coast of Gulfport, Mississippi, Parker said.

The fishing boat had 16 people aboard. It sank after colliding with the bigger ship, Parker said. Thirteen of the 16 were rescued, but three others were still missing Thursday morning.

"We'll continue searching for them," he said.