BookingAir

OTTAWA (AFP) – A college class-at-sea ship carrying dozens of Canadian students sank off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, but all 64 passengers and crew members were plucked from the water alive, a Brazilian Navy spokesman said Friday.

The Concordia, a three-masted sailing ship for a "Class Afloat" program, sank in the late afternoon Thursday some 300 miles (550 km) off the Brazilian coast after battling strong winds, Commander Romualdo told AFP in a telephone interview from Brasilia.

"The navy received a distress call from the ship and sent reconnaissance aircraft," said the spokesman.

So far "64 students, teachers and crew members have been rescued" and are in good health, he said.

Canada thanked Brazilian authorities for rescuing the students.

"All crew and passengers have been recovered and are uninjured. This is good news," Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said in a statement.

"I thank Brazilian authorities who led a search and rescue operation and acted swiftly to assist the ship and its passengers."

The student program is operated by Canada's West Island College International, which is based in Nova Scotia.