The damaged hull of the Greek tanker the Mindoro The tanker was carrying the highly flammable fuel kerosene
A Greek tanker transporting kerosene and a Cypriot container ship have collided off the Dutch coast.
The collision happened in the North Sea, some 30km (19 miles) from the port of Scheveningen, according to Dutch news agency ANP.
No-one was injured in the incident although the tanker's hull was pierced and some of the fuel leaked out.
As a precaution, an oil dispersion ship and rescue vessels are on their way to the site.
The tanker, the Mindoro, is reported to have a crew of 25 people. Twelve people were on board the Cypriot ship, the Jork Ranger.
Peter Verbrug, a spokesman for the Dutch coastguard, told AFP that the leak was rapidly stopped and the remaining kerosene in the damaged tank was being pumped into another tank.
"The kerosene which escaped evaporated very quickly, it was hardly in contact with the water," he said.
Reports say the hole is five metres (16 ft) wide. The kerosene posed no public health risk, was evaporating rapidly and was not expected to reach the shoreline, according to another coastguard spokesperson quoted by Reuters.
The Cypriot vessel is returning to the port of Rotterdam but was not seriously damaged in the collision.
A Greek tanker transporting kerosene and a Cypriot container ship have collided off the Dutch coast.
The collision happened in the North Sea, some 30km (19 miles) from the port of Scheveningen, according to Dutch news agency ANP.
No-one was injured in the incident although the tanker's hull was pierced and some of the fuel leaked out.
As a precaution, an oil dispersion ship and rescue vessels are on their way to the site.
The tanker, the Mindoro, is reported to have a crew of 25 people. Twelve people were on board the Cypriot ship, the Jork Ranger.
Peter Verbrug, a spokesman for the Dutch coastguard, told AFP that the leak was rapidly stopped and the remaining kerosene in the damaged tank was being pumped into another tank.
"The kerosene which escaped evaporated very quickly, it was hardly in contact with the water," he said.
Reports say the hole is five metres (16 ft) wide. The kerosene posed no public health risk, was evaporating rapidly and was not expected to reach the shoreline, according to another coastguard spokesperson quoted by Reuters.
The Cypriot vessel is returning to the port of Rotterdam but was not seriously damaged in the collision.