Tanker collides with fishing boat off the coast of Selsey

HM Coastguard scrambled to assist the stricken vessels just after 3am this morning (February 12), responding with the helicopter from Lee-on-Solent and RNLI lifeboat from Selsey.

There were no reported injuries among the six fishing vessel crew, nor the 20 on the tanker.

Damage to the tanker was described by HM Coastguard as ‘superficial’ and the fishing vessel all so sustained only minor damage.

There are no reports of pollution but the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s duty counter pollution team has been called as a precaution.

Andrew Follows, senior maritime operations officer with HM Coastguard said: “We’re so thankful that this was a relatively minor collision and that no one has been injured.

“We sent the helicopter for safety overwatch while the lifeboat arrived. The RNLI lifeboat is staying with the fishing vessel until they and we are certain it can make its own way back to port.”

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has also been told.