A cargo ship which collided with an oil tanker after leaving Gibraltar earlier this month is in danger of breaking in two, the British territory's port minister said Aug 21.
"The likely outcome is that the vessel will break in two due to the effects of swell and tides," said Joe Holliday, adding the operation to salvage the Panamanian-registered New Flame had been halted as the vessel was unstable.
Marine salvage officials have assured the government of Gibraltar that if the vessel does break in two all remaining fuel onboard -- under 500 tonnes -- will remain safely inside the storage tanks, the minister said.
Oil removal equipment has nevertheless been deployed to the scene and was standing by in case of an accident, Holliday said.
The ship collided with the Danish tanker Torm Gertrude, which was headed to the southern Spanish port of Algeciras, on August 12 and operations to remove fuel from the New Flame had begun on Thursday.
The captain of the New Flame, which left port without the necessary clearance, face charges of endangering other ships.
