Collision in the North Sea: One missing, pollution risk, and questions about maritime safety

A tanker and a cargo ship collided on Monday, March 10, in the North Sea, off the coast of Yorkshire, England. The accident caused a fire, the evacuation of thirty-six sailors, and left one missing, according to the British coastguard. The search for the missing crew member ended in the evening.

A violent crash and emergency evacuations

The cargo ship Solong, flying the Portuguese flag, struck the tanker Stena Immaculate, chartered by the U.S. military to transport jet fuel. According to Crowley, the company operating the tanker, the vessel was stationary when the cargo ship, traveling at a speed of 16 knots (about 30 km/h), collided with it.

Following the collision, thirty-six crew members were brought ashore, one person was hospitalized, but a sailor from the Solong remains missing. “A rescue helicopter, lifeboats, an airplane, and fire-fighting vessels were mobilized,” the coastguard stated.

Pollution risk and environmental concerns

The accident resulted in a jet fuel leak into the sea. Greenpeace expressed its “extreme concern” regarding the risks to marine life, particularly in a porpoise breeding area. The cargo ship was also carrying fifteen containers of sodium cyanide, a highly toxic substance. An “assessment of pollution control measures” is currently underway, according to British authorities.

An accident under investigation

The exact circumstances remain unclear. The director of the Grimsby port mentioned the possibility of an error related to autopilot. “If no one is on the bridge and the ship is on autopilot, it could continue straight ahead,” he explained. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has sent a team to conduct the initial investigations.