Three Vessels Collide in English Channel

Update: The barge was towed to just outside Dover harbor into the south cruise terminal and the tug made its own way there.

The collision has reportedly left the crews in a state of shock.

The MAIB describes the accident as a "collision in the Dover Strait between a Liberian registered general cargo ship and a crane barge, which was being towed by the UK registered tug Kingston." The vessels involved have been identified as Rickmers Dubai and Walcon Wizard.

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A collision involving three vessels in the English Channel has caused serious damage, according to local coast guard officials.

Lifeboats were called to the scene following the crash, about nine miles off the coast at Dungeness in Kent.

A Liberian-registered cargo ship, heading towards Genoa in Italy, passed between a tug and a barge it was towing. No one was injured in the incident.

Lifeboat crews remain with the tug and barge. The crew of the tug is still onboard. The cargo ship involved is now anchored at Newhaven.

The Dungeness lifeboat was initially sent to the scene, but has been replaced by the Dover lifeboat and the Galatea, a Trinity House vessel, which are trying to tow the damaged vessels back to shore.

The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch is at the scene and conducting an investigation into the collision.

Photo Credit: RNLI/Simon Collins

Photo Caption: Crewmember Simon Collins on board the Dungeness RNLI lifeboat took photograph of the tug and barge when it was light enough to see two of the three casualties.