On New Year’s eve, the Portuguese-flagged product tanker ‘Elsa Essberger’ collided with an offshore oil rig, in North sea, some 20nm southwest of Den Helder, The Netherlands.
At the time of the accident, the platform, called Q1 Halfweg, was unmanned, as it is no longer in use. The operator, Petrogas, decided to stop production in the field last March.
Judging from AIS track, the ship was proceeding at near full speed of some 13 knots, MaritimeBulletin reported.
Following collision, the Dutch Coast Guard vessel ‘Guardian’ arrived on scene. Both the tanker and the platform sustained serious damages, especially the ship’s bow.
No pollution and no injuries were reported, according to international sources. Based on AIS data, the vessel is anchored in Rotterdam.
The cause of the accident is yet to be determined.
