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Collision in the North Sea: Police Investigate Container Ship Incident
Investigations are underway following a serious maritime collision in the North Sea involving a Russian-operated container ship, with authorities questioning the vessel’s captain. The incident, which has raised alarm due to its potential implications, has left search and rescue operations in its wake as emergency responders assess the situation.
The 59-year-old captain is currently in custody in East Yorkshire, suspected of gross negligence manslaughter after the crash resulted in the feared loss of a crew member. The ship he was piloting, the Solong, collided with a US-flagged tanker, the Stena Immaculate, which was anchored and carrying jet fuel for American military use. The tanker had been waiting for unloading space at a port in the Humber after arriving from Greece.
According to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the fires on the Solong have significantly decreased, and the vessel is now stabilized off the Yorkshire coast after breaking free from the Stena Immaculate on Monday night.
Coastguard officials were optimistic about boarding the Stena Immaculate for an initial damage assessment on Wednesday, essential for salvors to conduct a more thorough evaluation of the wreckage. At the time of the incident, the Solong was en route from Grangemouth, Scotland, to Rotterdam, Netherlands, traveling at approximately 16 knots (about 18 mph) when the crash occurred.
Both ships ignited due to a series of explosions, leading to the rescue of 36 crew members, including American nationals from the Stena Immaculate and crew members of Russian and Filipino descent from the Solong.
Preliminary investigations are ongoing, and while all possibilities are being explored, authorities stated they currently have no evidence to suggest state involvement from Russia.
There were initial concerns that the Solong was transporting sodium cyanide, a highly toxic substance. However, its owner, the Hamburg-based maritime company Ernst Russ, has confirmed that four containers that previously held the chemical are now empty.
Environmental concerns were addressed after air quality sampling onshore indicated no presence of toxins, and the Met Office’s modeling showed no risk to public health, as confirmed by HM Coastguard.
The Solong has since drifted at least two miles south from the collision site but is now secured with the assistance of tugboats, providing reassurance that it is unlikely to sink. The Stena Immaculate is also being stabilized by tugboats.
In terms of environmental impact, some of the jet fuel from the tanker, approximately 220,000 barrels, is believed to have ignited in what witnesses described as a “massive fireball,” raising concerns about possible spills into the sea.
Late Wednesday, it was reported that fire onboard the Stena Immaculate had been extinguished. Assistant Chief Coastguard John Craig emphasized the importance of environmental protection in the ongoing response, stating, “A comprehensive counter-pollution response is in place, and HM Coastguard continues to make preparations for any pollution that may occur.”
Aerial surveillance by the coastguard did not reveal any pollution on the water surface, a positive sign in the ongoing situation.
While the Marine Accident Investigation Branch will take time to conclude its investigation into the crash’s causes, Humberside police are concurrently examining the circumstances surrounding the suspected death of the crew member.
In a recent statement, Ernst Russ confirmed that the ship’s captain had been detained and remarked that the entire team is cooperating with investigative efforts. “Out of respect for the investigation and all involved, we will not comment further at this time,” the company added.
Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson, the senior investigating officer, noted the extensive work already undertaken, expressing commitment to understanding the incident and supporting those affected.
Source
www.theguardian.com