Bunker Tanker Almost Capsizes After Collision With Containership

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Tuesday September 1, 2015

A bunker tanker narrowly avoided capsizing after a collision with a cargo ship off the Northeast coast of Peterhead in Scotland, the BBC reports

The 24-metre fuelling vessel Erin Wood was reported to have collided with the 4,155 DWT Daroja on Saturday, with Aberdeen Coastguard having received a mayday call from two crew members of the Erin Wood that the ship was taking on water. 

According to separate reports, a lifeboat from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) was requested to assist. 

“On arrival at the scene it was found that the tanker Erin Wood had almost capsized, and had taken a large ingress of water through the wheelhouse, disabling all power and engines, which resulted in a severe list," the RNLI said.

"The two crew of the tanker had launched the boat liferaft, in case they had to abandon ship.”

No injuries were reported, and personnel reportedly spent hours pumping out the tanker's engine room. 

Following that, "the Erin Wood was taken under tow by a fishing vessel into Peterhead and the cargo vessel has also gone to Peterhead," said the coast guard in statement. 

"The Maritime and Coastguard Agency will be attending both vessels and an investigation is under way."

In July, a tanker and a cargo ship collided off the coast of Shanghai, leaking a small amount of bunker fuel into the water.