Ferry crashes side-on into stationary container ship in the Mediterranean causing 600-ton oil spill
The Tunisian-registered Ulysse rammed the 66,000-ton freighter CSL Virginia anchored 20 miles off the French island of Corsica
A FERRY managed to crash side-on into a huge stationary container ship in the middle of a calm Mediterranean Sea.
The Tunisian-registered Ulysse rammed 66,000-ton CSL Virginia — causing a 600-ton fuel spill.
Investigators now want to know how the Ulysse’s captain failed to spot the 1,000ft-long, 150ft-high container ship in 970,000sq miles of open water.
Weather conditions and visibility were good when the 530ft Ulysse struck while doing 21mph on its way from Genoa to its home port of Tunis.
CSL Virginia, registered in Cyprus and carrying no cargo, was anchored 20 miles off the French island of Corsica.
The ships were yesterday still embedded as maritime authorities worked out how to free them.
France and Italy have launched an operation to clean-up the fuel which spilled from CSL Virginia’s ruptured tanks.
French environment minister Francois de Rugy flew over the crash scene by helicopter before condemning the “abnormal behaviour” of the Ulysse — but said it was too early to say exactly what had happened.
Mr De Rugy added they were “working hard and doing everything so that this accident does not have ecological consequences”.
No one was injured in the smash. French officials have launched an investigation into criminal pollution.
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