LONDON — On Tuesday, British authorities detained the captain of a cargo vessel following a collision with a U.S. military fuel tanker off the coast of eastern England. The crash resulted in a fire on both ships and a missing crew member who is presumed dead. Police stated that the 59-year-old suspect was arrested under “gross negligence manslaughter” charges linked to the incident, but his identity remains undisclosed as no formal charges have been filed.
The cargo ship, owned by Ernst Russ shipping company, confirmed their captain’s arrest and emphasized their ongoing cooperation with investigative bodies. Officials indicated there is no current evidence of foul play. Environmental repercussions are being monitored as the jet fuel spill into the North Sea poses potential risks to marine life.
The U.K. coast guard scrutinized the tanker’s port side damage following the collision, noting the ongoing fire concerns on the Solong, which drifted away under the watch of an exclusion zone. Transport Minister Mike Kane reassured that no pollution has been detected near the vessels, while public health threats remain minimal. It was initially feared the Solong might sink, but later reports suggested both ships could remain buoyant.
The incident mobilized extensive rescue efforts involving lifeboats, aircraft, and commercial vessels amidst North Sea fog. While 36 out of 37 crew members from both ships were safely evacuated to Grimsby, one sailor remains missing and is feared dead, leading to the cessation of search efforts.
Investigations are now underway to dissect how the Solong, en route from Scotland’s Grangemouth to Rotterdam, collided with the stationary tanker roughly 10 miles off the English shoreline. Responsibility for the cause is being supported by both the United States and Portugal due to the vessels’ flags.
The tanker Stena Immaculate, measuring 183 meters, is part of the U.S. Tanker Security Program, a reserve of commercial ships designated for transporting military fuel. Carrying 220,000 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel, the exact spillage quantity remains unknown, while early reports about hazardous chemical containers onboard the Solong have been clarified — the potentially toxic sodium cyanide containers were empty.
Ernst Russ expressed commitment to collaborating with local authorities and cleanup operations to mitigate ecological harm. Environmental organizations like Greenpeace highlight the area’s ecological vulnerability as it encompasses significant fishing grounds and vital seabird habitats.
Marine experts, such as Tom Webb from the University of Sheffield, stress the region’s ecological and economic significance, while Alex Lukyanov of the University of Reading warns of potential severe environmental damage due to persistent oil types influencing spill management.
