The Bahamas-flagged, 115,500-ton Aframax tanker Erik Spirit diverted to Falmouth for hull repairs after she collided with the American fishing vessel Sunrise, off Portland, Maine, USA, two weeks ago.

Falmouth pilot Captain David Pickston brought the 250-metre long tanker, one of the largest ships in tonnage terms to call here, into port with four tugs in attendance. Thousands of tonnes of ballast had to be pumped out of the tanker in order to reduce her draught for mooring alongside the Queen's Wharf. Erik Spirit had sustained damage to her starboard bow which is being repaired by a squad of men working from a barge.

The Teekay Shipping tanker was on passage from Portland to Primorsk, Russia, when she collided with the 189-ton trawler 20 miles off Portland Head lighthouse.

One fisherman sustained minor injuries aboard the Sunrise which suffered major damage to its bow and port side.

A United States Coastguard investigation team has taken statements from the fishing boat's crew and are seeking statements from the tanker's flag state as the incident happened outside US territorial waters.

The Rockland harbour master said that these accidents occur from time to time as the fishing fleet often crosses the busy shipping lanes at night-time.

Erik Spirit, which is expected to sail on Sunday, is part of the 160-strong Teekay Shipping fleet which moves more than ten per cent of global oil supplies.