Two Panamanian merchant ships collided yesterday off the Mumbai coast resulting in an oil spill from one of the vessels but no casualties were reported. Indian Coast Guard officials said, traffic at Mumbai harbour was suspended following the collision between the two ships as some containers from one of the vessels fell into the sea, triggering fears of other ships crashing into them. Officials said, 33 crew members, including two Pakistanis, were rescued following the collision between MSC Chitra and MV Khalijia-III five nautical miles from the shores at 9.50 am. They said, Both the ships, measuring at least 180 metres in length, developed cracks following the collision. Chitra tilted sharply under the impact, resulting in oil spill. A senior Coast Guard official said it appears that about 10 to 15 tonnes of diesel of Chitra might have spilled into the sea waters due to the collision. Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) received a call soon after the collision and the Regional Operational Centre promptly diverted Coast Guard ship Kamala Devi for assistance, the officials said. Indian captain and 32 crew members of Chitra were evacuated and the ship was grounded in the vicinity of the Prong Reef Lighthouse. The preliminary cause of the collision of the two Panamanian ships yesterday is suspected to be navigational error on the part of one or both the ships’ captains, but the details will be investigated by statutory agencies like the Directorate-General of Shipping besides the Mumbai Port authorities.A senior coast guard official said that, the impact of the collision resulted in oil spill; however the situation was under control. The Indian captain and 32 crew members of Chitra were evacuated also 33 crew members, including two Pakistanis, were rescued following the incident.According to Coast Guard officials, MSC Chitra, the outbound merchant vessel from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), collided with MV Khalijia-III, five nautical miles from the shores at 9:50 am. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) received a call soon after the collision and the Regional Operational Centre promptly diverted Coast Guard ship Kamala Devi for assistance, the officials said.