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AP Photo/French Navy
English Channel

Chemical tanker brought to Brest after collision

No pollution found as tanker carrying petroleum product collides with another tanker.

A CHEMICAL TANKER is being towed to the French port of Brest this morning after it collided with a freighter last night, causing the ship to be abandoned by crew.

The Maltese-flagged Uranus tanker was carrying thousands of tons of a heavy type of gasoline in the English channel when it was hit by another tanker travelling in the same direction.

A deepwater tug had to begin to tow Uranus overnight to the north-western port, and coast guards now say there is no pollution visible.  The ship’s Glasgow-based operators say that ”the salvage team on-board are confident that while the vessel has a 12 degree list to port, there is no immediate danger.”

A statement from a spokesman from the French transport ministry confirmed that the ship’s cargo was heavily flammable, but that the situation is under control.

“We’re in more of a favourable situation than an unfavourable one. The convoy will be travelling at four knots, which means that it’ll take 12 to 13 hours”