Stricken tanker towed to safety

A coastguard tug towed a broken down ship to safety from the Dover Straits.

Crews on the chemical tanker Ruth Theresa alerted Dover coastguards on Friday that the ship had a mechanical fault and was drifting.

A spokesman said there was a risk of collision and the vessel was towed out of the shipping lane to anchor off Margate at about 0900 BST.

The Ruth Theresa tanker was on passage from Immingham to Brest under the Maltese Flag.

Hugh Shaw, of the Maritime Salvage Agency, said: "Broken down ships in a busy shipping lane there do pose a risk of collision which could result in significant pollution and disruption.

"It was therefore decided to remove the threat by towing the vessel to a place of safety outside the main shipping lanes.

"The ship is now safely anchored off Margate and is continuing with her repairs."