ATHENS - Two cargo ships collided early Monday off southwestern Greece, with 10 crew members missing, the Greek coastguard said.

One ship named "Piri Reis" under a Cook Islands flag sank after the collision, while the other carrier sailing under an Antigua-Barbuda flag was not seriously damaged and its entire crew of 16 is safe, according to the Greece coastguard.

"Piri Reis" was sailing with a 17-member crew on board in the Aegean Sea when it was hit under still unclear circumstances by the Antigua-Barbuda flagged freighter "Consouth".

Greek coastguard's speedboats supported by a C-30 aircraft and a helicopter are searching the area for the missing seamen.