A Russian national was identified as the captain of the cargo ship involved in a collision with a U.S. tanker off the coast of England, resulting in a massive fire, spilled jet fuel, and one presumed death. The 59-year-old captain was detained on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence, and the ship’s crew consisted of Russian and Filipino nationals, with one crew member still missing. The U.S.-flagged tanker, MV Stena Immaculate, was anchored near Hull when it was struck by the Solong cargo ship, but all 23 crew members on board were reported safe with no injuries.
Port inspection documents revealed that the Solong had previously failed steering and safety checks, with deficiencies including unreadable emergency steering position communications, inadequate alarms, improperly maintained survival craft, and non-compliant fire doors. Despite two inspections in Dublin and Scotland that found deficiencies, the ship was not detained. However, authorities in the U.K. do not suspect foul play in the collision involving the U.S. tanker and container ship.
The Stena Immaculate was part of the U.S. government’s Tanker Security Program, a group of commercial vessels that can transport fuel for the military when needed. The ship’s owner, Crowley Ship Management, is cooperating with U.K. agencies to respond to the incident and mitigate environmental impacts resulting from the collision. While the exact volume of fuel released is unknown, initial assessments indicate limited impacts due to fire exposure and evaporation of the spilled jet fuel. Air quality and public health impacts onshore are being closely monitored and are currently within normal levels.
As of Wednesday, the Solong was still drifting and on fire, but officials believe it is likely to remain afloat rather than sink. The U.K. agencies are actively monitoring the situation and working to contain any potential hazards resulting from the collision. The incident underscores the importance of maritime safety and the need for rigorous inspections and compliance with safety regulations to prevent accidents at sea. The investigation into the collision is ongoing, and additional details and findings may emerge as authorities seek to determine the exact cause of the tragic incident.
