Brazil: 64 rescued at sea after ship owned by Canadian school capsizes off coast

Brazil: 64 rescued after Canadian ship capsizes

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil’s Navy says a Canadian student boat has capsized off the coast of Rio and all 64 passengers have been rescued from life rafts.

The passengers were picked up by nearby shipping early Friday.

The Navy says in a statement that those aboard blamed high winds and rough seas for the capsizing Thursday evening.

The boat was owned by West Island College International, based in Nova Scotia.

A spokesman there confirmed the incident but declined to give details.

The school’s Web site says it gives high school and college students the chance to study while sailing the world.

The ship had left Brazil’s northeast on Feb. 8 and was expected to dock in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Tuesday.