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" Serving the world...

...from Malta "

Weather in Malta

21.3°C dust

dust

Time Zones:

New York

Malta

Shanghai

" Serving the world...

...from Malta "

Crew Safe Following Chemical Tanker Collision

12 / 10 / 10

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A Maltese-registered tanker, YM Uranus, loaded with a type of gasoline collided with Panamanian-flagged Hanjin Rizhao, 50 nautical miles (100km) south-west of the French island of Ouessant.

The 6,970-tonne YM Uranus took in large amounts of water as a result of the collision and was said to be listing 12-degrees to port.  The tanker is currently under tow to the nearest port of Brest in France. It is estimated that it would take the tug, the ETV Abeilles Bourbon, between 12 and 13 hours to tow the tanker to port. The 13-strong crew of the YM Uranus took to liferafts and were subsequently winched to safety by a French helicopter, no-one was injured.

The 179,000-tonne Hanjin Rizhao proceeded on its way as it did not suffer any damage in the collision. According to French maritime authority spokesman, Marc Gander, no heavy pygas had escaped, and while the gasoline is flammable, it would quickly evaporate in the event of a spill.

The Channel is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, with more than 400 vessels using it daily, and despite the use of a radar-controlled traffic separation system, collisions continue to occur.

Crew Safe Following Chemical Tanker Collision

12 / 10 / 10

Share Article on 

A Maltese-registered tanker, YM Uranus, loaded with a type of gasoline collided with Panamanian-flagged Hanjin Rizhao, 50 nautical miles (100km) south-west of the French island of Ouessant.

The 6,970-tonne YM Uranus took in large amounts of water as a result of the collision and was said to be listing 12-degrees to port.  The tanker is currently under tow to the nearest port of Brest in France. It is estimated that it would take the tug, the ETV Abeilles Bourbon, between 12 and 13 hours to tow the tanker to port. The 13-strong crew of the YM Uranus took to liferafts and were subsequently winched to safety by a French helicopter, no-one was injured.

The 179,000-tonne Hanjin Rizhao proceeded on its way as it did not suffer any damage in the collision. According to French maritime authority spokesman, Marc Gander, no heavy pygas had escaped, and while the gasoline is flammable, it would quickly evaporate in the event of a spill.

The Channel is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, with more than 400 vessels using it daily, and despite the use of a radar-controlled traffic separation system, collisions continue to occur.