Initial efforts to separate two vessels that collided off Corsica have failed.

The 17,900-gt Cotunav ferry Ulysse (built 1997) steamed into Cyprus Sea Lines' 5,018-teu boxship CSL Virginia (built 2005) on Sunday morning, spilling 600 tonnes of fuel in a slick stretching 25km.

Euronews reported that more experts, including divers, have travelled to the scene to assess the impact in the hull of the container vessel.