The maritime world is reeling after a serious collision between a Portuguese-flagged cargo ship and a US-registered oil tanker in the North Sea resulted in the arrest of the cargo ship’s captain. Authorities launched a criminal investigation after the incident, which occurred around 10:00 GMT on Monday off the East Yorkshire coast.
The collision between the cargo vessel Solong and the tanker Stena Immaculate has led to the arrest of the Solong‘s 59-year-old master. He is currently being held on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter following an extensive but unsuccessful search and rescue operation for a missing crew member.
Smoke is still coming from the cargo ship, but Captian already arrested
Smoke continues to billow from the damaged cargo ship, although UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has reassured the public that neither vessel is in immediate danger of sinking. Despite this, the incident resulted in one crew member from the Solong being presumed dead. Rescue efforts were formally called off on Monday evening, leaving authorities and families dealing with the loss.
Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson of Humberside Police emphasised the severity of the situation:
“Following inquiries undertaken by my team, we have arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision. Our thoughts are with the family of the missing crew member, and I have appointed family liaison officers to provide ongoing support.”
Crew and vessel details
The Solong was crewed by a multinational team, reportedly including Russian and Filipino nationals, according to Whitehall sources. The German firm Ernst Russ, which owns the vessel, confirmed the arrest and indicated the crew is fully cooperating with investigators.
Meanwhile, the 23 American crew members aboard the Stena Immaculate have safely reached Grimsby and are awaiting onward orders. The tanker, while sustaining damage, remains afloat and stable.
Multiple investigations underway
The collision has triggered parallel investigations involving multiple maritime authorities. Humberside Police are leading the criminal investigation, with additional support from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Simultaneously, the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is conducting a preliminary assessment to establish the collision’s causes and recommend any necessary safety improvements.
Sources: BBC News, Humberside Police statements, Maritime and Coastguard Agency reports.
