Editorial 11.03.2025
Tuesday’s headlines are dominated by the catastrophic North Sea tanker collision, with detailed reports on the incident, rescue operation and environmental concerns.
As of this morning, fires are still burning, and one person remains missing.
Elsewhere, there’s coverage of other ongoing domestic stories, including the farmers’ protests and civil service cuts. Threats over AI and images of the Princess of Wales make several front pages.
The UK back pages cover last night’s Premier League match as Newcastle snagged all three points against West Ham.
The business newspapers focus on the stock markets as US recession fears sparked a market run-off.
Several papers report on the upcoming US- Ukraine talks being held in Saudi Arabia.
North Sea tanker collision
‘North Sea inferno could have widespread impact on wildlife,’ reports the Daily Mirror.
The Daily Mirror leads with the headline “Catastrophe”, saying the “North Sea inferno” saw a US-flagged oil tanker, Stena Immaculate, and the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong. The paper highlights the dramatic rescue of 32 crew members and expresses concerns over the potential impact on wildlife.
‘Vessel was carrying 18,000 tonnes of fuel for the US Navy,’ reports the Metro.
The Metro features images of billowing smoke and flames from the collision off the northern coast of England, echoing fears of an impending “environmental disaster.” The paper notes that the Stena Immaculate was carrying 18,000 tonnes of Jet A-1 fuel for the U.S. Navy, while the Solong was transporting sodium cyanide, raising significant environmental concerns.
‘How did the vessels collide in broad daylight?’ asks the Daily Mail.
The Daily Mail questions how the vessels collided “in broad daylight,” accompanying the article with striking images of the flames over the North Sea. The paper reports that the collision occurred around 10 a.m. local time in foggy conditions near Grimsby, leading to fires on both vessels and a fuel spill into the North Sea. The paper describes the incident as “horror in the North Sea.”
‘Foul play cannot be ruled out,’ reports the Daily Telegraph.
The Daily Telegraph reports on the North Sea crash, citing a government source who stated that “foul play” has not been ruled out, although early investigations have yet to provide evidence supporting this claim. The paper highlights that the collision resulted in significant fires and explosions, leading to a rescue operation for the 37 mariners aboard the two vessels. A maritime expert is quoted saying, “I would rule out any conspiracies or terrorism to as near zero as you can at this point.”
‘Britain’s biggest environmental disaster in a generation,’ says The Times.
The Times reports on environmental concerns following the North Sea collision. The paper reports that emergency crews are battling to prevent what could become “Britain’s biggest environmental disaster in a generation,” noting that the East Yorkshire coast is “a haven for seabirds and marine life,” with sensitive habitats such as Bempton Cliffs, home to England’s largest gannet colony.
‘Search for missing crew member has now been called off,’ reports the i.
The i Paper showcases a large image of the firefighting rescue efforts, providing a detailed account of Monday’s incident, including reports of one sailor still missing. The paper notes that the search for the missing crew member has been called off by HM Coastguard. It also adds Greenpeace’s warning that it’s too early to assess the damage but emphasises that the “speed of the response” will be crucial.
‘Cyanide was onboard when the collision happened,’ reports The Sun.
The Sun uses the headline “Hellfire” to describe the collision, reporting cyanide was onboard when the collision happened. The paper says the US tanker was full of fuel for the American military.
‘It is unclear if the cyanide entered the water,’ reports The Guardian.
The Guardian leads with news of one person still missing from the collision. The paper notes that the Solong was carrying toxic sodium cyanide, adding to the environmental concerns. It says it’s unclear if the cyanide entered the water.
Wall Street plunges
‘US stocks declined after Trump refused to rule out US recession,’ says the FT.
The Financial Times reports on Wall Street’s plunge as US stocks declined on Monday due to fears of an economic slowdown after President Donald Trump did not rule out the possibility of his tariffs triggering a recession. The paper also features an image of Canada’s new prime minister, Mark Carney
‘Market pain after Trump comments,’ reports CITY AM.
CITY AM reports on US recession fears after Donald Trump refused to rule out the fact that the US could slide into a recession, which sparked a global sell-off.
Starmer on jobless Britain
‘Indefensible number of jobless,’ reports The Guardian.
The Guardian reports on Sir Keir Starmer’s remarks to Labour MPs regarding the “indefensible” number of jobless individuals in the UK, ahead of the Department for Work and Pensions’ Green Paper on sickness and disability benefit reform.
‘260 MoD phones have been lost or stolen in the first 2 months of 2024,’ reports the Express.
The Daily Express leads with an exclusive story claiming that over 260 Ministry of Defence phones have been lost or stolen in the first two months of 2024. Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard described the figures as “poor accounting,” attributing them to the “mustering of assets” rather than incidents of loss or theft.
‘AI bots could dominate internet,’ warns the Daily Star.
The Daily Star warns, based on insights from “boffs,” that AI bots could soon dominate the internet, filling it with “techie gobbledygook” that may be incomprehensible to humans.