JET fuel was pouring from a tanker into the North Sea this morning after it was involved in a collision with another huge ship.
JET fuel was pouring from a tanker into the North Sea this morning after it was involved in a collision with another huge ship.
They smashed into each other around 19 miles (30km) off the Dutch coast leaving a gaping hole in the hull of the vessel carrying kerosene.
The Greek tanker Mindoro and a Cypriot container ship collided leaving fuel leaking out of a large hole 16ft by 20ft close to the waterline.
Peter van Oorschot, spokesman for the Dutch Coast Guard, said the tanker had a crew of 25 and the Arka oil spill control boat was on its way to the stricken tanker as a precaution.
A coast guard tug boat was also heading to the scene but the crew of the Mindoro managed to stem the leak by pumping fuel into an undamaged part of the ship.
"We have a small slick in the water, but it is minimal and it is evaporating very quickly," said Mr van Oorschot.
The container ship involved in the collision, the Jork Ranger, was returning to port but was not seriously damaged.
The Mindoro dropped its anchor and was waiting for experts to investigate whether it was safe for it to return to port.