Massive oil tankers collide in Gulf of Oman

(DUBAI, United Arab Emirates) - Two massive oil tankers collided early Monday in the Gulf of Oman, but no oil was spilled. <br><br>After several hours, tug boats separated the empty British Vigilance from

Monday, March 25th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(DUBAI, United Arab Emirates) - Two massive oil tankers collided early Monday in the Gulf of Oman, but no oil was spilled.

After several hours, tug boats separated the empty British Vigilance from the Stena King, which was laden with oil, said a spokesman for the owners of British Vigilance.

``The tankers have been separated and there is no sign of oil in the water,'' Robert Wine said.

The accident occurred at 1:30 a.m. about 15 miles off the United Arab Emirates port of Fujairah, said Wine, speaking from London.

The harbormaster at Fujairah, Tamer Massoud, said Stena King's bow rammed into the side of British Vigilance.

Jan Sonesson, operations manager for the company that manages Stena King, also said there was no spill and no casualties.

The extent of damage was not immediately known.

Stena King was carrying 450,000 tons of oil from Saudi Arabia to the Gulf of Mexico in the United States, Sonesson said. The tanker has a crew of 43 crew, mainly British officers and Filipino sailors.

Stena King is owned by Concordia Maritime AG of Sweden, Sonesson said, speaking by telephone from Gothenburg, Sweden.

British Vigilance is owned and operated by British Petroleum. It was steaming toward the emirate of Dubai for repairs when the collision occurred.

Fujairah port's harbormaster declined to give details of the collision.