Cargo ship sinks off Ukraine after blast

Odessa, Ukraine
A cargo ship has sunk off the port of Odessa in Ukraine, the vessel's manager says. -AP

The Estonian-owned cargo ship Helt has sunk off the Ukrainian port of Odessa after an explosion, the vessel's manager says.

Two crew members were in a life raft at sea while four others were unaccounted for, Igor Ilves, managing director of Tallinn-based manager Vista Shipping Agency, told Reuters.

"The vessel has finally sunk," he said. 

"Two of the crew are in a raft on the water and four others are missing. I don't know where they are at the moment."

Ilves said the vessel might have struck a mine.