Egypt Daily News – On Monday, a fire broke out on tanker carrying jet fuel and a cargo ship after they collided in the North Sea off the coast of East Yorkshire, UK.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) reported that several people—about 32 so far—abandoned the ships following the collision. Rescue boats were dispatched from Bridlington and several coastal towns in Lincolnshire.
The lifeboat service confirmed that four crews were sent to the scene after receiving reports of the incident shortly before 9:50 a.m. Several people abandoned the vessels following the collision, which occurred approximately 13 miles off the coast.
It was confirmed that all those on board the oil tanker were “completely safe.” However, jet fuel was released into the sea, according to the company managing the ship.
Martin Bowers, CEO of Grimsby East Port, stated that 32 victims were transported to shore. He mentioned that 13 victims were taken on board a high-speed Windcat 33 vessel, followed by 19 others on a port pilot boat.
Massive Fireball
Bowers added that reports indicated a “massive fireball.” He said, “They must have sent a distress call—fortunately, there was already a crew transport vessel in the area.”He continued, “Since then, a fleet of ambulances has arrived to pick up anyone they can find.”
The U.S. logistics group Crowley, which manages the oil tanker Stena Immaculate, confirmed that the vessel released some jet fuel after a cargo tank was ruptured. In a statement, Crowley said, “Stena Immaculate sustained a rupture in a cargo tank containing Jet-A1 fuel due to the collision (when a moving ship collides with a stationary object).”
Crowley added, “A fire broke out as a result of the incident, and a fuel spill was reported. The crew of Stena Immaculate abandoned the ship after multiple explosions on board.” It continued, “All Crowley sailors are safe and accounted for.”
Response Plan
The company stated that it had initiated an emergency response plan for the vessel and was “actively working with public agencies to contain the fire and secure the ship.” Crowley added, “Our top priority is the safety of people and the environment. We will provide further updates as more information becomes available.”
The UK Coastguard had earlier announced that it was coordinating the emergency response. A coastguard helicopter from Humberside was dispatched to the scene, along with lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe, and Cleethorpes.
British Coastguard fixed-wing aircraft and nearby firefighting-capable ships also participated in the operation.
The East Midlands Ambulance Service reported receiving a call at 11:28 a.m. regarding the incident at North Quay in the coastal town of Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
In a statement, the service said, “We have deployed multiple resources, including our Hazardous Area Response Team, and we remain at the scene.”
Meanwhile, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) dispatched investigators to the city.
A spokesperson stated, “Our team of inspectors and support staff are gathering evidence and conducting a preliminary assessment of the incident to determine our next steps.”
The Tanker and the Ship
The oil tanker involved is Stena Immaculate, sailing under the U.S. flag, while the cargo ship is named Solong and flies the Portuguese flag, according to Marinetraffic.com.
Solong was scheduled to travel to Rotterdam in the Netherlands after departing from Grangemouth, Scotland, earlier that morning, according to the tracking website.
Moving images on the tracking site suggest that the oil tanker remained stationary while Solong moved directly toward it before the collision.
It is believed that Stena Immaculate, which was traveling from Greece to the UK, was anchored at the time.
David McFarlane, director of maritime risk and safety advisors, told Sky News that it could take up to an hour to lift the anchor—meaning the tanker might not have had time to move out of the way.
Meanwhile, Bowers suggested that the container ship may have been operating on autopilot at the time of the incident.
He explained, “Autopilot only directs the course; it does not steer or adjust for obstacles at sea.”
U.S. Program
The U.S. Maritime Officers Union stated that the tanker was part of a program to own 10 ships capable of transporting oil for the U.S. military “in times of need.”
The group said that Stena Immaculate was reflagged in August 2023 as part of a program by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Maritime Administration.
While it would continue commercial operations, it could be chartered by the U.S. government on a short-term basis. It is unknown whether Stena Immaculate was under charter through the program at the time of the incident.
Meanwhile, visibility in the area was poor before the collision, according to the UK Met Office. The Met Office stated, “Areas of fog and low cloud lifted as winds increased during the morning, with some warm but somewhat hazy sunshine expected in some places for a time.”
It added, “Thicker clouds and a few showers are moving south in the afternoon. Maximum temperature: 14°C.” Greenpeace UK expressed significant concerns over the high-speed collision and footage captured after the incident.
A spokesperson for the environmental organization said, “At this stage, it is too early to assess the extent of the environmental damage.”
