Two maritime incidents within five minutes

Two separate collisions at sea were reported to the Malta Maritime Authority within five minutes on Friday night.

The first involved the Danish-built chemical tanker Erria Maria, which ran into a tuna fish farm at 9.35 p.m.

The tanker, formerly called Maria Jakobsen, had left Malta Shipyards at 8.30 p.m. and was heading to her next port of call.

Sources said the Vessel Traffic System (which used to be known as Valletta Radio) repeatedly warned the ship that she was heading towards the fish farm.

The tanker was escorted back to Magazine Wharf by a pilot from the Valletta Pilot Station and is currently being held by the Maritime Authority for further investigations.

The value of the damage is not known yet, but industry sources said it could be "very substantial".

The second collision occurred at 9.40 p.m when the Maltese trawler Carmela 1 and the Maltese-registered bunkering tanker Spiro F. collided some seven kilometres off Valletta.

No one was injured and the tanker did not appear to have suffered any damage but as the trawler started to take in water, it was lashed alongside the tanker. The two vessels later returned to Grand Harbour.

The Malta Maritime Authority is holding inquiries into both incidents.