GDYNIA, Poland, Feb 25 (Reuters) - A Polish navy helicopter on Sunday rescued eight of an 11-man crew from a Norwegian container ship sinking in the Baltic off the Polish coast.

"Our helicopter has removed eight crew members from the Norwegian registered container ship Ocean Caroline going down some 62 miles (100 km) north-west of (the Polish port of) Gdynia," navy spokesman Bogdan Zajda told Reuters.

"The captain and two assistants have decided to remain on board for the time being to secure the ship as rescue boats await nearby," he added.

According to marine rescue spokeswoman Miroslawa Wieckowska, the 80-metre (yard) ship began taking on water after springing a leak at the hold level.

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