Insider Brief
- Authorities report that public health risks from the cargo ship collision in the North Sea remain low, but that and the environmental impact are still being assessed.
- The collision between the anchored tanker Stena Immaculate and the container ship Solong resulted in fires aboard both vessels and the rupture of at least one jet fuel tank.
- The cause of the collision is under investigation, with the Stena Immaculate reportedly carrying jet fuel for the U.S. Department of Defense and the Solong transporting sodium cyanide.
A government official has said the public risk from the cargo ship collision with a U.S.-flagged tanker carrying jet fuel into the North Sea coast near Hull, United Kingdom, is low, but the environmental impact remains unclear.
The anchored tanker Stena Immaculate was struck by the container ship Solong and at least one cargo tank holding Jet-A1 fuel was ruptured, according to Crowley, the shipping firm that manages the Stena Immaculate.
“At this stage, it is unclear what volume of fuel may have been released as a result of the incident,” Crowley said in a statement. “At the time it was struck, the 183-meter (596-foot) Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks.”
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has confirmed that air quality at ground level remains within normal levels for current weather conditions, HM Coastguard noted Tuesday. The UK Health Security Agency (HSA) has deemed any public health risk to be very low but continues to reassess as more information becomes available, noted in an update Tuesday.
Crowley stated that it is fully cooperating with U.K. authorities as they investigate the cause of the incident and will defer to them for further updates on potential environmental impacts.
“Fires were reported on both vessels, two HM Coastguard helicopters, a coastguard fixed wing aircraft and RNLI lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe and Cleethorpes were sent, along with several nearby vessels with firefighting capabilities.” stated Matthew Atkinson, Divisional Commander for HM Coastguard.
“The Solong is still alight and the fire on board the Stena Immaculate has greatly diminished,” Atkinson said on Tuesday at around 12:00 GMT. “Safety vessels and other vessels with firefighting capabilities are still on scene with more arriving today.”
The HM Coastguard reported that 36 crew members were taken safely to shore, with one person was treated for injuries but not taken to a hospital. One crew member of the Solong remained missing and search operations had been stopped.
The collision’s cause remains unclear, but one of the Stena Immaculate’s crew members told BBC News that the Solong appeared “out of the blue” and struck the tanker at 16 knots.
The Stena Immaculate was carrying jet fuel on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Portuguese-flagged Solong, which was transporting 15 containers of sodium cyanide, a highly toxic industrial chemical, the BBC reported. It was unknown if any of the cyanide chloride was spilled.
The cargo ship Solong drifted southward after separating from the tanker Stenna Immaculate at 11:20 p.m. Monday night, according to HM Coastguard. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, with a one-kilometer exclusion zone established around both vessels.
The Counter Pollution and Salvage Team is evaluating conditions and preparing an intervention plan. Meanwhile, the Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) is coordinating efforts with shipowners, salvors, and insurers.
Heidi Alexander MP, UK Secretary of State for Transport, noted in a post on X Monday that she was, “concerned to hear of the collision between two vessels in the North Sea this morning and am liaising with officials and HM Coastguard as the situation develops.”
“As with all our operations, Crowley’s priority is to protect the safety of mariners, and the environment. We greatly appreciate the quick actions and support of the U.K. authorities, rescue workers and others to today’s incident and remain committed to working with them on the continued response efforts,” said Cal Hayden, vice president, Crowley global ship management.
The Stena Immaculate, a 596-foot tanker operated by Crowley in partnership with Stena Bulk USA, was serving under the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Tanker Security Program. At the time of impact, the vessel was anchored and awaiting berth availability at the Port of Killingholme, where it was scheduled to deliver fuel for the Military Sealift Command.
