The captain of a cargo ship has been arrested in England on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence after a collision with a US-flagged tanker in the North Sea. The 59-year-old Russian captain commanded the Portugal-flagged cargo vessel Solong, which had 14 crew members of Russian and Filipino nationality. UK authorities have not found evidence of foul play in the crash, but investigations are ongoing with the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch, as well as authorities in the US and Portugal. The ship had failed several safety checks last year, with deficiencies including issues related to steering, alarms, survival craft, and fire doors.
The collision occurred on Monday when the Solong collided with the MV Stena Immaculate, a tanker carrying jet fuel for the US military. The impact caused both vessels to catch fire, with one sailor from the Solong missing and presumed dead. The other 36 crew members from both ships were safely evacuated with no major injuries. The Stena Immaculate was part of the US government’s Tanker Security Program, which contracts commercial vessels to transport fuel for the military when needed. The collision resulted in jet fuel spilling into the sea, raising concerns about environmental damage to marine life and coastal birds.
The UK authorities, alongside partner agencies, are conducting inquiries into the crash to determine the cause of the collision. The investigation is focused on understanding why the Solong, en route from Grangemouth to Rotterdam, struck the stationary tanker off the English coast. The captain of the Solong has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence, although he has not been officially named by authorities. The vessel’s owner, Ernst Russ, confirmed that the arrested captain is of Russian origin, but no further details have been provided.
Port inspection documents revealed that the Solong failed safety checks last year, including steering-related deficiencies discovered during inspections in Dublin, Ireland, and Scotland. These deficiencies included unreadable emergency steering position communications/compass readings, inadequate alarms, poorly maintained survival craft, and fire doors that did not meet requirements. Despite these safety issues, the ship was not detained after the inspections. The Solong remains adrift and ablaze in the North Sea, with officials expecting the vessel to remain afloat rather than sink. The US and Portugal are leading the investigation, as both vessels are flagged in these respective countries.
The collision between the Solong and the MV Stena Immaculate has raised concerns about potential environmental damage from the spilled jet fuel, posing a risk to marine life and coastal birds. Environmentalists have highlighted the threat to sea life, including whales, dolphins, and various seabird species, such as puffins, gannets, and guillemots that inhabit the coastal cliffs. The incident has sparked fears of significant harm to the ecosystem in the North Sea. The Solong’s failed safety checks and the captain’s arrest have brought attention to the importance of maintaining proper safety standards in maritime transportation to prevent accidents and protect the environment. The ongoing investigations will shed light on the circumstances leading to the collision and help prevent similar incidents in the future.
