A Zodiac general cargo ship and a Seatrade reefer vessel have been involved in a major collision in the Caribbean.
The 28,836-dwt Seagate (built 1989) was hit by the 535,112-cbf ft Timor Stream (built 1998) early on Saturday about 60 miles off Haiti.
The UK-flagged general cargo ship, which sustained heavy damage to its starboard superstructure, is said to be taking on water.
All the ship's personnel are accounted for, and no injuries have been reported.
Eighteen of the ship’s 21-man crew have abandoned the vessel. The remaining three crewmen have stayed onboard to assess the damage.
The captain of the Seagate confirmed to US authorities that the vessel is stable, with minimal water in the engine room.
However, as a result of the collision, one of the fuel tanks was punctured with a potential release of about 4,000 gallons of lube oil onboard.
The Liberian-flagged Timor Stream is said to have suffered minimal damage, is structurally sound, and will remain on scene until released by the US Coast Guard (USCG).
The crew of the USCG cutter Venturous has arrived on scene and has assumed the role of on-scene commander. USCG aircraft are conducting overflight assessments.
“Our main focus now is to ensure the continued safety of the Seagate crew and to mitigate any further damage to the vessel or environment that may be caused by worsening weather,” said the USCG.
