A SHIP is leaking diesel after crashing into a wind turbine off the coast of Morecambe Bay.

Liverpool Coastguard has been in attendance since just after 9am this morning co-ordinating the recovery of the stricken vessel which collided with part of a turbine at Walney Wind Farm.

OMS Pollux has since been leaking marine gas oil, or diesel.

The Danish-registered vessel, with a crew of around 18 on board, remains afloat and there are no reported injuries.

The coastguard revealed that since hitting the turbine pile it has managed to move under its own power to a location north of the port of Liverpool, taking it away from 'environmentally sensitive areas'.

The Barrow lifeboat attended the incident and the ship was escorted in relay by the Barrow, Lytham and Hoylake lifeboats.

A 'surface sheen', 5 to 10 metres wide and around 0.7 nautical miles in length, is now trailing the vessel.

However, the coastguard said the diesel 'should evaporate or disperse naturally'.

The OMS Pollux will remain offshore outside the Liverpool Port Authority limits until the leak has been stopped.

The multi-agency Environment Group set up to respond to this type of incident – and comprising local authorities, emergency services, government agencies and other stakeholders - has met this afternoon to assess the local situation.