LONDON - Two large ships are stranded in stormy seas after getting into difficulties off the English coast, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said on Monday.

The "Ice Prince" is listing 40 degrees and drifting at 3 knots in busy shipping lanes off the South coast after its cargo of sawn timber shifted.

Some of the 5,300 tonnes of cargo fell overboard and ships in the area have been warned.

All 20 crew abandoned the 6,400 tonne Greek-registered ship late on Sunday and were taken ashore, including a Greek national with a broken leg.

A French tug is on standby to prevent the stricken vessel, which was travelling from Germany to Alexandria in Egypt, getting in the way of other vessels in winds gusting to Force 8 and five-metre swells.

"The rescue is incredibly difficult because of the weather," a coastguard spokesman said.

At one stage the warship "Cumberland" was standing by to help the heavily rolling vessel, but there is no reported damage or leakage.

Discussions are taking place to decide what to do next.

In the early hours of Monday a second vessel ran into difficulties.

The 9,600-tonne "The City of Sunderland" car carrier went aground off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with about 650 cars. There were no injuries and the ship is believed to be intact.

Tugs will attempt to refloat the Isle of Man registered vessel at high tide later on Monday.

Glynn Young, acting watch manager at Yarmouth Coastguard, said it was listing 10 degrees to port.

"The vessel is being buffeted by the wind and sea as it lies across the wind; we are therefore closely monitoring the situation as it develops," he told Reuters.