The tugboat "Abeille Flandre" stroving to tow sinking tanker Erika's stern into open waters. Monday December 13th at 14.15 the tanker in vertical position before sinking at 14.53. The Maltese registered oil tanker "Erika" started sinking off the northwestern French coast on Sunday December 12, 1999, after having split in half, consequently spilling thousands of tons of crude oil into the ocean.