Beirut, Lebanon (CNN) -- The Lebanese navy said it has recovered 38 people and four bodies off the coast of northern Lebanon after a ship with 83 aboard sank Thursday.

The rescue mission was continuing Friday, according to a military official. Authorities believe that most people who were aboard the ship were wearing life jackets,

The Uruguayan ship sunk about 11 miles off the coast of Tripoli, Lebanon, said Gen. Saleh Suleiman, a Lebanese military spokesman.

Naval forces from Lebanon and from a United Nations force in Lebanon were searching for survivors.

The ship was carrying livestock bound for Tartous, Syria, but it was not immediately clear whether the ship was on its way there or whether it already had reached its destination and was returning home, he said.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/12/18/lebanon.shipwreck/