Maghreb Edition

Tunisian boat and Cypriot container ship collide off CorsicaF

Posted On 8 January 2019

Number of times this article was read : 459

Tunis, Jan 7, 2019 (AFP) – A collision between a Tunisian boat and a Cypriot container ship that sent hundreds of tonnes of fuel spilling into the Mediterranean in October was due to an extraordinary series of human errors, investigators said Monday. The watch officer on board the Tunisian vessel Ulysse was chatting on his phone, while his counterpart on the Cypriot container ship Virginia did not attend to radar alarms, Tunisian, French and Cypriot investigators said in a report presented in Tunis.

The Tunisian vessel rammed into the Cyprus-based boat — anchored some 30 kilometres (18 miles) off Corsica — at full speed on the morning of October 7. The Virginia had thrown anchor in the middle of a sea lane, the report said. It took several days of maritime manoeuvres to disentangle the boats and pump some 520 cubic metres of propulsion fuel, which had escaped tanks “This accident is due to human error shared between the Tunisian boat’s team and that of the Cypriot boat,” said Youssef Ben Romdhane, director
general of sea transport in Tunisia’s commerce ministry.

“The captain of the Tunisian boat was busy… making private telephone calls. He was far from the radar screen that warns of danger. He was alone”, he told AFP. The Cypriot boat was anchored in an “inadequate” area, he added. “According to testimony… this is the first time a ship had dropped anchor in this location… (on) a sea lane used by merchant ships,” he said.

The Virginia had thrown anchor there under pressure from the ship owner, Ben Romdhane said, citing the investigation’s report. The two ships had the same insurer, which estimated damage to the two ships to be at least 13.5 million euros (15.5 million dollars), while cleaning coastal waters was provisionally estimated at 10 million euros, Ben Romdhane said.

More than 12 ships, including the French and Italian navy, were mobilised to tackle the fuel spill caused by the collision.  The mayor of French coastal town Ramatuelle lodged a complaint over pollution of Pampelonne beach, a renowned retreat in the Gulf of Saint
Tropez.  A separate investigation is being carried out by France’s judiciary, which is still evaluating responsibility for the accident and pollution.

Subscribe to Urgent Notifications and Newsletter

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Security: Hackers Publish Names Tied to Morocco’s Police and Intelligence Services$

Hackers operating as Jabaroot published four spreadsheets naming more than 70,000 alleged members of Morocco’s police and intelligence directorates, branding the release around the July 30 Ceuta border breach. European services reviewing the files consider the names genuine but dated, and accounts of their origin conflict sharply. Rabat has not responded, leaving the hackers’ framing to circulate unchallenged in Madrid and Brussels.

Algeria-France Trade Drops 23% with Import and Energy Curbs$

Trade between Algeria and France fell by roughly 23% in the year ending June 2026, dropping below €9 billion as import controls and political tensions reshape the relationship. Algeria’s tighter oversight of foreign purchases has sharply reduced French exports—particularly in food, automotive equipment, and industrial goods—while energy-driven exports to France also declined. The figures point to a broader shift as Algeria diversifies suppliers and reduces reliance on its former primary trading partner.

Morocco Faces Balancing Test Over Potential Gaza Security Role$

A reported plan for a Moroccan military outpost in Gaza is raising questions about Rabat’s regional strategy. While participation in a multinational stabilization force could be framed as humanitarian and security support, a visible troop presence inside an Israeli-controlled area risks political backlash at home and abroad. The proposal highlights the tension between Morocco’s ties to Israel and its longstanding positioning as a supporter of Palestinian interests.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.