The World : 2 Tankers Collide, Spill Oil

Two oil tankers collided off the northeast coast of England, caught fire and spilled more than 300,000 gallons of crude oil into the North Sea, the British coast guard said. No injuries were reported aboard the Liberian-registered Phillips Oklahoma or the Maltese-registered Fiona, and authorities expressed confidence that the 20-mile-long by 7-mile-wide oil slick could be dispersed. Six aircraft sprayed the spreading slick with dispersants throughout the day. A coast guard spokesman said much of the oil had broken into patches, and there were no reports of oil coming ashore. The Fiona, which anchored when the early morning collision occurred, was damaged in the bow while the Oklahoma, which was moving, was damaged in the stern, said coast guard spokesman David Clempson.