Channel collision perplexes navy

AN inquiry into how a second vessel crashed into a shipwreck in the English Channel was continuing last night, French Coastguards said.

Since 14 December, two ships have got stuck on top of the submerged car carrier Tricolor despite efforts by authorities to alert marine traffic to the danger.

On Wednesday night the 22-year-old Turkish-registered Vicky, carrying 70,000 tonnes of highly flammable kerosene, struck the wreck. As an emergency operation was launched, maritime union bosses said it "beggared belief" that another crash had happened.

The French Navy added that it could not understand the near misses. The warship Flammant had sent a warning, and five buoys, one with a radar signal, marked the spot.