Both vessels involved in the collision on the North Sea off the coast of Yorkshire, the tanker Stena Immaculate and container ship Solong, appear stable for now, with salvors waiting for safe conditions to board. A video of the moment of impact has been released while the captain of the Solong has been arrested for gross negligence manslaughter.
The container ship Solong allided with the Stena Immaculate while at anchor at an offshore location near Hull, while it awaited berth availability at the Port of Killingholme. The Solong was en route from from Grangemouth, Scotland, to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The tanker was carrying jet fuel.
36 of the 37 crew members were rescued. A search for the missing crew member of the Solong was called of on Monday evening, with this crew member presumed dead.
After the collision, the ships were stuck together and fires broke out on both vessels. At least one tank on board the Stena Immaculate was ruptured resulting in jet fuel flowing out into the sea. The tanker’s anchor kept the two vessels in place. On Tuesday, the vessels disentangled on their own, with the Solong starting to drift southwards. A towing line was attached and the container ship was towed to a safe location.
Also read: Tanker and container ship on fire after colliding in North Sea
Video footage of collision released
Video footage captured by Orca AI’s lookout unit (SeaPod) mounted on the tanker Ionic Aspis anchored off the port of Grimsby close to the tanker MV Stena Immaculate at the time of the accident shows the accident as it happened.
The footage comprises two videos, one captured by the SeaPod’s day cameras showing the dense fog that would likely have prevented the crew of the feeder containership MV Solong from seeing the MV Stena Immaculate with the human eye. The second video captured by the SeaPod’s thermal cameras shows the approach of the Solong and the explosion as it ploughed into the tanker. Watch the video below:
Coastguard and Crowley update
Last night, at 8.20 pm local time, Chief HM (UK) Coastguard Paddy O’Callaghan reported that there was ‘no fire visible on the Stena Immaculate’, but there were still ‘small pockets of fire on the top deck of the Solong. Specialist vessels with fire fighting capability continue to provide support to this aspect of the operation.’
Earlier on Wednesday, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) Chief Executive Virginia McVea said: ‘The Solong is being held in a safe position offshore by a tug and further support vessels remain in the ship’s immediate vicinity. The Stena Immaculate remains at anchor, with safety tugs in position should they be required.’
Crowley, which manages the Stena Immaculate through a joint venture with owner Stena Bulk USA, said that: ‘The vessel is stable, remains securely anchored and is being monitored via a salvage vessel by Crowley representatives and partners as well as government authorities.’
No pollution observed
After the initial release of jet fuel into the sea, no more pollution has been observed. O’Callaghan: ‘Three aerial surveillance flights have taken place today and these have not indicated any pollution on the surface of the water attributable to either of the casualty vessels. HM Coastguard’s Counter Pollution and Salvage team has a comprehensive counter pollution response in place should it be required.’
This was also confirmed by Crowley: ‘Initial third-party salvage operations for the Stena Immaculate have begun to assess the vessel exterior and indicate no ongoing release of cargo product to the water and no sheen on the water.’ However, until salvage teams can go aboard the ship, it remains unclear what volume of jet fuel may have been released as a result of the incident. Of the sixteen cargo holds, at least one was impacted.
‘Initial assessments indicate that environmental impacts have been limited due to exposure to the fire and evaporation of the Jet A-1 fuel,’ added Stena Bulk in a statement. ‘UK agencies are closely monitoring air quality and any possible public health impacts onshore, with readings currently within safe parameters.’
Salvors also have equipment and personnel ready to respond to any pollution.
McVea also stated that: ‘The MCA’s concern in relation to tanks on the Solong has reduced with tugs now able to work in close vicinity. The threat from the previously identified Dangerous Goods on board has reduced significantly. Air quality sampling onshore has shown no toxins and modelling from the Met Office indicates no threat to the public.’
Salvors to board once safe to do so
‘The MCA is working with the salvage companies who are responding on behalf of the vessels’ owners and are working in full co-operation with all commercial and government partners. The overarching objective is to protect the public and the environment to the best of our ability, during this ongoing incident response,’ stated McVea on Wednesday afternoon.
With O’Callaghan adding at night: ‘Salvors will conduct on-board assessments of the vessels as soon as they are safe to board.’
According to McVea, a ‘second salvage company has been engaged for the Stena Immaculate.’
Also read: Smit Salvage called in for burning tanker on North Sea
Captain Solong arrested
On Tuesday afternoon (11 March), Humberside Police revealed they had arrested ‘a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision’. The arrest followed the conclusion of search operations by HM Coastguard for the missing crew member of the Solong. British media say it involves the Russian captain of the Solong.
Following the collision, Humberside Police commenced a criminal investigation into the cause of the collision and are working in collaboration with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch are also undertaking a parallel preliminary assessment to establish the causes of the collision.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson said: ‘Humberside Police have taken primacy for the investigation of any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision between the two vessels. Extensive work has already been carried out, and we are working closely with our partners to understand what happened, and to provide support to all of those affected.’
Picture (top): Solong pictured on 11 March 2025 (photo by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency).
Also read: Ro-Ro ship salvaged from Channel after fire
