A collision between a Maltese oil tanker, the Tasman Sea, and a Chinese ship, the Shunkai No.1, Saturday morning, has contaminated the Bohai Sea off the coast of Tianjin in north China.

The accident caused no casualties, but produced an oil spill measuring 2.5 nautical miles in length and 1.4 nautical miles in width in the Bohai Sea, according to official reports.

The Maltese oil tanker, whose third cabin was damaged, was anchored when the accident occurred.

The Tianjin Maritime Bureau responded immediately to the incident and has sent seven oil-cleansing ships to the site. By Sunday noon, the damage was brought under control.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

(People's Daily November 25, 2002)