In a shocking turn of events, British police have arrested the captain of a cargo ship on suspicion of manslaughter following a devastating collision with a tanker carrying jet fuel for the U.S. military off the coast of eastern England. The collision resulted in both vessels catching fire, with one sailor presumed dead and fears of significant environmental damage looming large.
The 59-year-old captain was detained by the authorities “on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision.” While his identity has not been disclosed, the shipping company Ernst Russ, which owns the container carrier, confirmed that he was the ship’s master. The company stated that he and their entire team are actively cooperating with the investigations.
The cause of the collision is currently under investigation, with no indications of foul play reported by the government. The collision occurred between the Portugal-registered Solong and the U.S.-flagged tanker MV Stena Immaculate, leading to explosions and fires that raged for over 24 hours. The incident has raised concerns about potential environmental repercussions, particularly in terms of damage to birds and sea life due to the jet fuel spill in the North Sea.
Footage captured from a helicopter on Tuesday morning revealed that the fire on the tanker seemed to have been largely extinguished, although the Solong was still ablaze. The cargo ship, with its front end crushed and blackened, was drifting away from the tanker, prompting the implementation of a 1-kilometer exclusion zone around both vessels. Transport Minister Mike Kane assured lawmakers that there were no signs of pollution from the vessels at that time, with air quality readings remaining normal and the risk to public health onshore deemed “very low.”
Despite initial concerns that the Solong was at risk of sinking, the government later confirmed that both vessels were likely to remain afloat. The collision triggered a massive rescue operation involving lifeboats, coast guard aircraft, and commercial vessels in the foggy North Sea. Fortunately, all but one of the 37 crew members from the two ships were safely evacuated in Grimsby, with no major injuries reported. Regrettably, one crew member remains missing, with search efforts being called off by the coast guards.
The U.K. Marine Accident Investigation Branch has initiated an inquiry into the incident to determine the cause of the collision. The investigation will be led by the U.S. and Portugal, the countries under which the vessels are flagged. The U.S.-based maritime management firm Crowley, which operates the Stena Immaculate as part of the U.S. government’s Tanker Security Program, disclosed that the tanker was carrying 220,000 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel, with at least one tank ruptured in the collision.
As the investigation unfolds, concerns about environmental damage persist, with uncertainties surrounding the extent of the spill and its impact on marine life. The owner of the Solong clarified that the vessel was not carrying containers of sodium cyanide, contrary to earlier reports, and pledged to collaborate with cleanup teams to mitigate further environmental harm. Greenpeace U.K. emphasized the need for a thorough assessment of the collision’s environmental consequences, particularly in a region known for its diverse wildlife and seabird colonies.
Experts in marine ecology and oil spill modeling have underscored the potential severity of the environmental toll, given the persistent nature of the spilled oil and the complex interplay of factors such as weather conditions, sea currents, and the type of oil involved. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between maritime operations and environmental conservation, highlighting the need for stringent safety measures and swift response protocols to prevent and mitigate such disasters in the future.