Oil Slick in North Sea After Collision

A Greek-owned tanker, carrying jet fuel, collided with a German-owned container ship Tuesday in the North Sea, 20 miles off the Dutch Coast.

The tanker, MINDORO, was damaged causing jet fuel to leak into the sea, and slick was spotted on the surface around the ship. Crew onboard was able to pump the leaking fuel back into an undamaged area of the ship putting a stop to the leak.

Officials say they are unsure of how much jet fuel leaked but that offshore winds were blowing the slick away from the Dutch coast and oil spill control vessels were en route to the area. The Dutch Coast Guard also reports that the light paraffin that leaked is quickly evaporating, posing little threat to the environment.

The MINDORO, has a 16-foot-wide hole in its hull, near the waterline and is anchored outside the port of Scheveningen awaiting inspection and clearance. The remaining fuel onboard has been transferred to another vessel.

The container ship, Cypriot-flagged JORK RANGER, owned by Bernd Becker based outside of Hamburg, was en route from St. Petersburg to Rotterdam at the time of the collision and with no serious damage has continued its voyage.

The Mindoro has 25 crewmembers onboard and the Iork Ranger has 12; all were reportedly unharmed in the collision.