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The "Coral Opal" passed IJmuiden locks on Jan 27 and moored at the Africa Port of Amsterdam on Jan 28 around 2 a.m. with severe bow damage, while the "Maersk Etienne" already was under repair at Rigas Kugu Buvetava since Jan 19. Photo: http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2180080

The "Maersk Etienne" while enroute from Rouen to Riga was in collision with the "Coral Opal" in the Irbe Strait near Mikelbaka lighthouse on Jan 18, 2015. The Latvian Naval Forces Rescue Coordination Center had observed the two ships performing dangerous maneuvers around 8:30 p.m. last night, which ended in a collision between the tanker and the cargo vessel which had sailed from the Oglu Terminals in Riga on Jan 16 with a cargo of coal and was headed to Amsterdam. Both ships were damaged when the "Coral Opal" ran into the tanker's starboard aft, but both were able to continue their way. No one was injured, no pollution reported. A helicopter was sent to monitor the accident site for fuel spills. Both ships continued their voyage after a visual inspection by the patrol boat "Astra - KA 14", the "Coral Opal", which had suffered a crushed foreship and a leak in a ballast water tank, anchored off Ventspils on Jan 19, on the same day the tanker which had suffered significant damage in the stern region moored on the anchorage of Riga at 11.45 a.m. and berthed at Kugu Buvetava at 7 p.m. Latvian reports amd photos: http://rus.delfi.lv/news/daily/criminal/v-irbenskom-prolive-stolknulis-dva-gruzovyh-sudna-1710.d?id=45468866 https://www.flickr.com/photos/latvijas_armija/sets/72157650375745975/