A cargo ship which hit an oil tanker in heavy seas off the Dutch coast on Monday morning is now drifting near an offshore wind farm, the coastguard said mid afternoon.

The Julietta D is now floating rudderless between the turbines of the Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm which is currently under construction. According to one report, it may have hit the foundations of a platform where the electricity generated by the wind turbines will be brought together for transport to the mainland.

The wind farm, owned by Vattenfall, is some 18 kilometres off the coast between The Hague and Zandvoort and will have 140 turbines when completed.

The Julietta D was at anchor near IJmuiden in the morning but broke free in the high seas and hit the Pechora Star oil tanker. The 18-member crew was evacuated by helicopter after it transpired the collision had caused a hole in the side of the German ship, which was taking in water.

Now the crew have been successfully rescued, the focus is on securing the 190 metre ship, the coastguard said.

The Julietta D, a bulk carrier which flies under the Maltese flag, is being monitored by a lifeboat, but is currently drifting in a southerly direction. Rescue experts aim to tow the stricken vessel back to shore, when it is safe to do so.

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