News

TANKER COLLIDES IN CHANNEL

An oil tanker and a cargo ship collided in thick fog in the English Channel today (12 January) in what coastguards said was a "very serious incident."

A Norwegian cargo vessel "Starhurdla" collided with the oil tanker "Cape Bradley", six miles off the northern French coast at Boulogne.

Coastguards from Dover, were called in to assist in a French-led operation as the crew of the Starhurdla reported taking o­n water.

A coastguard tug operated by both the French and British authorities was used to tow the Starhurdla into Boulogne.

The Cape Bradley sustained o­nly minor damage and was sailing under its own steam to Rotterdam, Holland. There was no reported oil spill. No o­ne was hurt o­n either ship.

A Dover Coastguard spokeswoman said "There was no pollution and no loss of life but this is classed as a very serious incident. The Starhurdla was taking o­n water and had to be towed to port." She added "Clearly this incident had the potential to be far more serious."

An inquiry was under way into the collision, which happened in French waters.