A ship carrying 70,000 tonnes of flammable gas oil has struck the submerged car transporter the Tricolorin the English Channel.
French coastguards co-ordinated an emergency operation to rescue the crew of the Vicky, which was stuck on top of the sunken vessel.
The ship later came free with the rising tide. The captain sailed the vessel about a mile away and dropped anchor to survey for damage.
Early reports suggest no kerosene has leaked from the hull, a Dover Coastguard spokeswoman said. There were no injuries reported among the 24 crew. At least three boats, one from England, were involved in the rescue operation.
The Turkish-registered Vicky, a 243 metre-long, 43,000 tonne tanker, was sailing from Antwerp to New York when it struck the ship.
This is the second vessel to strike the submerged Tricolor, which was carrying 2,862 BMWs, Volvos and Saabs worth an estimated €45 million when it sank off the French port of Dunkirk on December 14th.
The Norwegian Tricolorsank after colliding with the Bahamas-registered container ship Karibain thick fog two weeks ago.
The wreck was later hit by the Nicola, a 3,000-tonne ship registered in the Dutch Antilles.
AP