Cliff Notes
- Newly released footage captures the moment the container ship Solong collided with the stationary US oil tanker Stena Immaculate, prompting a criminal investigation and the arrest of Solong’s Russian captain for gross negligence manslaughter.
- While no foul play has been established, investigations involving UK, US, and Portuguese authorities are focused on the causes of the collision, as initial safety checks had identified multiple deficiencies on the Solong.
- Thankfully, the environmental impact of the incident appears to be limited, with most of the jet fuel spill from the ruptured tank reportedly evaporating or burning off, preventing further catastrophe for the surrounding area.
Video shows moment container ship crashes into US oil tanker in North Sea | UK News
Newly obtained video footage reveals the moment container ship Solong crashed into US oil tanker Stena Immaculate off the coast of East Yorkshire on Monday morning.The tanker was carrying Jet-A1 fuel for the US Navy as part of a US government programme designed to supply American armed forces with fuel when required, a military spokesman told Reuters.
On Monday, maritime security sources said there was no indication of any malicious activity or other actors involved in the incident. UK authorities have also said they have so far found no evidence of foul play.
The Solong’s captain was arrested and the vessel’s owner has said he is a Russian national. Humberside Police arrested the 59-year-old on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter on Tuesday.
The rest of the crew were Russian and Filipino nationals, according to German shipping company Ernst Russ. Humberside Police said investigators had started a criminal probe into the cause of the collision and were working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Humberside detectives are working with the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch, and it has been reported that authorities from the US and Portugal will lead the investigation into what happened.
The Stena Immaculate was stationary and at anchor on the River Humber when it was struck by the smaller Solong, causing huge fires and explosions.
It was initially feared that the Solong was carrying sodium cyanide. However, the vessel’s owner Ernst Russ said four containers on the vessel had previously held the hazardous chemical, but there was none on board at the time of the crash.
How did ships collide in the North Sea?
Another inspection in Scotland in October 2024 found two issues with the Solong, including that lifebuoys were “not properly marked”.Ernst Russ said: “All deficiencies that were detected during routine port state control inspections of the Solong back in 2024 were promptly rectified”.
The potential environmental impact seems to be less severe than initially feared.Most of the spilt jet fuel has evaporated or burned off, Crowley said in a post on X.There also seems to have been no loss of engine fuel from either vessel and both are expected to remain afloat despite a gaping hole in the side of the Stena Immaculate and earlier fears the Solong would sink.There are no visible flames on either ship and the Solong, which was drifting, has now been secured by tugs.