Tanker MINDORO & Container Ship JORK RANGER - Collision

[Francis GIB]

BBC has just reported the following:

"A Greek tanker transporting kerosene and a Cypriot container ship have collided off the Dutch coast.

The collision happened in the North Sea, some 30km (19 miles) from the port of Scheveningen, according to Dutch news agency ANP.

No-one was injured in the incident although the tanker's hull was pierced and some of the fuel leaked out.

As a precaution, an oil dispersion ship and rescue vessels are on their way to the site.

The tanker, the Mindoro, is reported to have a crew of 25 people. Twelve people were on board the Cypriot ship, the Jork Ranger.

Peter Verbrug, a spokesman for the Dutch coastguard, told AFP that the leak was rapidly stopped and the remaining kerosene in the damaged tank was being pumped into another tank.

"The kerosene which escaped evaporated very quickly, it was hardly in contact with the water," he said.

Reports say the hole is five metres (16 ft) wide. The kerosene posed no public health risk, was evaporating rapidly and was not expected to reach the shoreline, according to another coastguard spokesperson quoted by Reuters"

[Henk]

At the moment the tugs FAIRPLAY 23, PRIMUS, GINGER and MULTRATUG 17 are in the nabourhood. MINDORO itself is sailing around in cirkles! No further details known yet! The only thing I know is ITC's CHINOOK and TEMPEST sailed out of IJmuiden to the cassuality, but are not seen at the moment!