The Maersk Holyhead, a 20,900 cubic metre semi-ref LPG carrier collided with the Liberian panamax bulk carrier Pequot 85 to 88 kilometres off the Maracaibo Lake channel on Sunday evening, Venezuelan time.

Maersk Holyhead was carrying about 11,200 tonnes of propane.

The collision tore a hole in the vessel’s starboard side above and below the waterline and caused a leakage in a bunker tank containing about 500 cubic metres of fuel oil.

At last report, the oil from this tank was leaking into the sea.

“Our Venezuelan officers and crew as well as the vessel are safe,” Maersk said in a statement.

“The vessel is now alongside in the discharge port El Tablazo and is awaiting additional oil containment equipment before initiating the discharge operation.

“We are actively cooperating with the relevant authorities to carry out an adequate and effective response to the oil pollution and to determine causes and effects of the incident. Technical expert assistance is presently being arranged flown out from Copenhagen.”