Stornoway Coastguard were informed by colleagues in Falmouth at 3.00 a.m. on 30 January 2000 that they, in turn, had been informed by French Coastguards in Itel, of a French fishing vessel `Saint Pierre', which had been involved in a collision with another vessel some 18 nautical miles due west of the Butt of Lewis in the Western Isles.

At the same time Stornoway Coastguard were told by fax from the crew of the 52,000 ton tanker ‘Laura' on its way from Portland, Maine in the USA to Hound Point in the Firth of Forth that they had been involved in a collision with another vessel. The Coastguard was told that the `Laura' has sustained damage to her port side, but that the integrity of all her tanks remained intact.

‘Laura' has a crew of 29, whilst the `Saint Pierre' carries 16 personnel on board. The fishing vessel has reported damage to her bow and that two of her crew - including the skipper - have been injured although not seriously enough to require an airlift to hospital. The fishing vessel is making her way into towards Stornoway where it is expected that the two crewmen will receive any treatment they require at the Western Isles Hospital. They are expected at the port around 12:30 p.m. today.

Martin Collins, Watch Manager at Stornoway Coastguard said, " As any damage the `Laura' may have sustained has not breached any tanks the vessel is continuing on her passage to Hound Point and we have informed the Marine Accident Investigation Branch of the incident this morning. The MCA's Counter Pollution has also been informed as a matter of course.