Container Ship Collides with Tanker

Accident takes place about six miles from Jebel Ali Port on Tuesday afternoon.

The Singaporean flagged container ship, MV SIMA SAMAN, collided with the MV KASHMIR, a tanker coming from the Jebel Ali Port in Iran. There were no fatalities, but there two crewmen sustained minor injuries.

There were fires on both vessels but they were put out within two hours of the collision. The accident affected only one of the tanker's 22 tanks filled with liquefied gas.

The Dubai Municipality announced it has taken all necessary measures to protect the emirate's marine environment following the collision. A spokesperson for the port of Dubai said the fuel evaporates very fast and the smell and vapour from it would be felt only in the nearby areas or those in the direction of the wind. It would not cause any notable damage to the marine environment, he said, adding that water samples had been taken from the affected area. Inflatable booms were placed around the damaged tanker to prevent spillage of its cargo of 30,000 tons of condensed liquid natural gas. Both vessels were being guided by pilots at the time, according to their operators.

Teams from the Regional Clean Sea Organization (RECSO) and SEACOR Environmental Services - both oil clean up companies were alerted to the accident. John Dipple, general manager of SEACOR said emergency equipment had been mobilized and a response system was in place.