32 casualties in Oil tanker and cargo ship collision off coast of eastern England

An oil tanker and a cargo ship collided today off the coast of eastern England, setting both vessels on fire. At least 32 casualties were brought ashore, but their condition was not immediately clear.

Britain’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency said several lifeboats, a Coast Guard rescue helicopter, a Coast Guard plane, and nearby vessels



equipped with firefighting capabilities responded to the scene in the North Sea.  

The U.S.-flagged tanker was anchored at the time, while the cargo ship was sailing from Scotland to the Netherlands. The collision occurred off the coast of Hull, about 250 kilometres north of London.