Fuel spill feared as cargo ships collide off Corsica

Fuel spill feared as cargo ships collide off Corsica
AFP October 8, 2018 https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/fuel-spill-feared-as-cargo-ships-co...

TWO cargo ships have collided off the island of Corsica, with authorities fearing a catastrophic oil spill in the idyllic Mediterranean region.

CARGO ship rammed into another freight vessel near the French Mediterranean island of Corsica early Sunday, causing no injuries but causing a leak which officials say is most likely fuel.

The Ulysse, operated by the Tunisian operator CTN, struck the Cyprus-based CLS Virgina while it was anchored about 30 kilometres off the northern tip of the island at around 7:30am, the regional naval authority said.

According to the CTN’s published shipping schedule, the Ulysse was travelling from Genoa in Italy to the Tunisian port at Rades near Tunis.

The Virginia was not carrying any cargo at the time.

“The collision caused considerable damage, with an opening several metres long in the CLS Virginia’s hull,” the naval authority said, adding that the leaking liquid was spread over “several hundred metres”.

Officials said they had not yet identified the liquid, but a source close to the inquiry said it was probably leaking “from one of the fuel tanks”.

The cause of the accident was not yet known, though weather conditions are not thought to have been a factor, with relatively calm seas and good visibility in the area at the time.

The Tunisian ship “was maybe going too fast compared to its ability to react,” the source told AFP.

A tugboat has been dispatched to the scene and the French navy has also sent a vessel specialised in containing and cleaning up pollution spills.

Italy has also offered its assistance as part of the Ramogepol accord between France, Italy and Monaco to jointly intervene in cases of maritime pollution.

“The Italian authorities offered their help and we’ve accepted it,” the naval authority said.

Officials will begin by setting up equipment to contain the spill.