After the container ship Solong had already been moved from the collision site on the North Sea, the Stena Immaculate has now also been towed to safety. The container ship Solong struck the tanker Stena Immaculate while at anchor on 10 March resulting in fires on both vessels and an extensive salvage operation.
The allision occurred some 14 nautical miles north-east of Spurn Head at the entrance to the Humber Estuary, while the tanker was at anchor and awaiting berth availability at the Port of Killingholme. The tanker was carrying 220,204.5 barrels of jet fuel.
The Solong was en route from Grangemouth, Scotland, to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The Portugal registered container ship was engaged in fixed trade in the North Sea, sailing between Rotterdam, Grangemouth and Hull. On 10 March, its containerised cargo included various products including some designated as dangerous goods.
After the collision, fires broke out on both vessels and jet fuel of the Stena Immaculate was flowing out into the sea. 36 of the 37 crew members were rescued. A search for the missing crew member of the Solong was eventually called off, with this crew member presumed dead. In addition, plastic nurdles were discovered in the water and along the coast, resulting in a clean-up operation.
On Tuesday, 11 March, the captain of the Solong, Vladimir Motin (59), of Primorsky, St Petersburg, Russia, was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision. He was officially charged for this offence on 14 March.
Also read: No lookouts on Solong or Stena Immaculate during collision
Solong removed first
Once the fires on both vessels were out, salvors inspected the vessels. The Solong was the first to leave the site of the collision.
Under tow by one tug and accompanied by another tug and a vessel with counter pollution measures, the vessel was taken to the Port of Aberdeen, where it arrived on 28 March, according to the HM (UK) Coastguard.
Also read: Solong towed to Aberdeen, lightering Stena Immaculate starts
Lightering Stena Immaculate
Before the Stena Immaculate could be towed to a port, however, the tanker had to be lightered. Smith Salvage was involved in this operation as this company was called in for the salvage. Lightering operations began over the weekend of 29-30 March.
On Wednesday, 9 April, Crowley, which manages the Stena Immaculate through a joint venture with owner Stena Bulk USA, announced that the cargo lightering had been completed. All remaining jet fuel was safely transferred to the tanker Fure Vyl.
Also read: Salvors board Stena Immaculate and Solong, nurdles discovered
Towed to Port of Great Yarmouth
After a final assessment by salvage experts, the Stena Immaculate was then towed to a lay berth at the Port of Great Yarmouth, UK, where the vessel arrived on 11 April. The vessel will now be inspected, undergo temporary repairs and is expected to remain there pending its final repair destination, which has yet to be determined, states Crowley.
Picture: Stena Immaculate pictured on 11 March 2025 (photo by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency).
