French authorities said Friday that there was no danger to the environment after a tanker carrying 6,000 tons of solvent collided with another ship off the western coast of France. The French coast guard said no pollution had been detected and no danger of pollution was expected from the accident, which took place about 100 kilometres south-west of the isle of Ouessant off the Breton coast, dpa reported. The crew of the 120-metre-long YM Uranus, flying a Maltese flag, issued an SOS before dawn Friday saying the ship was taking water after colliding with a cargo ship. The 13 crew members abandoned ship and were taken to safety by a French helicopter. The stricken tanker was traveling between the Italian port of Porto Marhera and the Dutch city of Amsterdam. The YM Uranus belongs to the Turkish company Yilmar Shipping, based in Istanbul.
