Emergency services reported on Friday that a tugboat had stopped a Panama flagged tanker, carrying 99,000 metric tonnes of oil, from drifting uncontrollably off the coast of Germany's Baltic Sea near Ruegen.

It said that the 274-metre tanker (eight-hundred-and-ninety-nine-foot-long) called Eventin had been drifting slowly, unable to move, since Friday morning.

The Central Command for Maritime Emergencies in Germany said that the distressed vessel was now held in place with a towing connection, to prevent it drifting uncontrollably. The next tactical steps are being evaluated.

The tanker was traveling from Russia to Egypt.

The CCME stated that it was not necessary to evacuate the crew of 24 members. It added that additional tugs are on their way. (Reporting and editing by Thomas Seythal, Rod Nickel and Sarah Marsh)

(source: Reuters)