Tanker Hits Oil Platform in Dutch North Sea

Photo shows damage to the tanker Elsa Essberger following its collision with an oil platform in the Dutch North Sea. Photo: Kustwatch

A Portuguese-flagged oil and chemical tanker rang in the New Year with some new damage to its bow after it collided with an oil platform in the Dutch sector of the North Sea.

The tanker, the 5,200 dwt MT Elsa Essberger, was sailing from Antwerp to Rotterdam when it hit the unmanned and out-of-service platform about 20 nautical miles southwest of Den Helder, Netherlands at around 6:20 p.m. local time on December 31.

Both the platform and tanker sustained damaged in the incident.

No pollution or injuries have been reported as a result of the incident.

The tanker was anchored near the platform following the collision, but as of Tuesday it was showing moored in Rotterdam, according to AIS.

Zondagavond is de 99 meter lange olie- en chemicaliëntanker Elsa Essberger ?? op de Noordzee in aanvaring gekomen met het platform Q1, ZW van Texel. Schade onbekend, geen gewonden… @Kustwacht_NL stelt onderzoek in. Voor anker 25 km uit de kust #dezeekust #callantsoog pic.twitter.com/N3HMt4EfW4

— De Zee Kust (@dezeekust) December 31, 2017