At around 3 am, a bulk carrier flying the Maltese flag and a chemical tanker from the Marshall Islands collided in the Casquets shipping lane which channels very dense maritime traffic off the Contentin coast. The accident occurred in international waters 62 km west of Cherbourg when the sea was rough with 2.5 m waves and NE winds blowing at 40 km/h. The 2 boats were using the same maritime route. The 198 m bulk carrier, with 26,000 t of phosphate on board, was sailing to Police (Poland) and the 226 m double-hulled chemical tanker that was transporting 10,000 t of phosphoric acid (H3PO4) was sailing to Ghent (Belgium). 2 British coast guard helicopters airlifted the 22 crew members of the chemical tanker who were treated for minor injuries. No damage was noted on the bulk carrier which was carrying 21 sailors. Divers examined the chemical tanker’s hull in order to determine the causes of the collision and any environmental impact. On 01/02 at 3.30 am, the chemical tanker sank 90 km west of the tip of La Hague when it was being towed to the Bay of the Seine. No trace of H3PO4 was reported on the surface of the water in the area of the shipwreck. British and French air forces observed 2 fragmented films on the surface. In addition, the boat lying on 70 m of seabed in international waters was transporting 70 t of heavy fuel oil and 20 t of light fuel oil. The 1st lenticular sheen was detected over a 12 km by 5 km area around the shipwreck. The 2nd straight line (40 km x 1.5 km) was caused by the illegal removal of gas by a vessel taking advantage of this pollution. The spillage of H3PO4 which dissolves in sea water should have no damaging effects on the marine ecosystem. According to a defence association, H3PO4 contains dissolved cadmium, which is a toxic metal. As a precaution, the maritime prefecture drew up an order banning fishing within a 1.8 km radius around the shipwreck and formally requested the Turk ship-owner to take the necessary measures to prevent the vessel from constituting risks for navigation and the coastline. A French minesweeper sent a robot to take pictures of the hull and detect any leaks. Tears, caused by “post-shipwreck implosions”, existed on the hull but no further pollution was noted. The installation of long-range radars at the Channel’s entrance could reinforce the surveillance in this maritime area.