The Maritime Safety Directorate is investigating a collision in Galway docks between an oil tanker and a cargo ship.
An Taisce has reiterated its call for the city centre oil terminal to be moved and for a review of fire safety regulations.
"We have all seen what happened in Hemel Hempstead," Derrick Hambleton, chairman of An Taisce's Galway branch, said at the weekend, referring to last week's explosions and fire at the Buncefield oil depot in Britain.
No one was injured in the collision in Galway port, which occurred early on Thursday morning when a Latvian-registered cargo ship, Bytom, and a Danish-registered 92-metre oil tanker, Orahope, were preparing to leave the docks on the tide.
The tanker had already discharged about 3,300-tonnes of home heating oil and was at its berth waiting to depart after the Bytom, which had delivered 4,000 tonnes of steel to the port. The collision caused the tanker's bow to be torn but there was no need for emergency services.
Mr Hambleton said An Taisce had highlighted on many occasions the safety risks of having a fuel terminal located so close to a centre of population.
An Bord Pleanála has approved plans for the construction of a new oil storage and distribution terminal on a 6.3 acre site at the Galway Harbour Enterprise site, and construction is expected to begin in the new year. However, no agreement has yet been reached with the fuel companies in relation to relocating.
Mr Hambleton said An Taisce favoured in principle a relocation, but had objected to the plan as there had been no environmental impact statement.
The enterprise park area borders on a shoreline which is a designated special area of conservation (sac), he said. An Taisce also believes there should be an overall area development plan, given that a deepwater port is also proposed, he said.