Tanker and fishing boat collide off Selsey Bill
A coastguard helicopter was called out in the early hours of Friday (February 12th).
Rescue teams have been scrambled to the scene of a collision between a bulk tanker and a fishing vessel off the coast of West Sussex.
A coastguard helicopter and an RNLI lifeboat from Selsey were called to the scene off Selsey Bill at just after 3am on Friday morning (February 12th).
Six people were on board the fishing vessel and 20 on board the tanker.
None are reported to have been injured in the incident.
HM Coastguard has described the damage to the tanker as 'superficial' and reported that the fishing vessel only sustained minor damage.
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.