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Authorities in Britain have detained a man on manslaughter charges as they investigate the circumstances surrounding a cargo ship’s collision with a tanker transporting jet fuel for the U.S. military off the coast of eastern England, an incident that resulted in a fiery disaster and left one sailor presumed dead.
Humberside Police confirmed that a 59-year-old individual was arrested on allegations of gross negligence manslaughter related to the maritime accident. The identity of the detainee has not been disclosed, and he has not yet been formally charged.
Following the collision, which involved the Portugal-registered cargo ship Solong colliding with the U.S.-flagged tanker MV Stena Immaculate on Monday, there were environmentally concerning consequences as jet fuel leaked into the North Sea. The impact triggered fires and explosions that persisted for more than a day, raising alarms among environmental officials monitoring the situation.
Video footage captured from a helicopter on Tuesday morning indicated that the flames on the tanker had mostly subsided, although the ship sustained significant damage on its port side.
According to the U.K. coast guard, as of Tuesday, the Solong continues to burn but its fire has greatly reduced. The cargo ship is reported to be drifting southward, away from the damaged tanker, and authorities have established a one-kilometer exclusion zone around both vessels. While an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident, officials have not yet found any evidence of foul play.
Concerns Over Pollution
Transport Minister Mike Kane updated lawmakers in the House of Commons, stating that at this point, there were no visible signs of pollution from the vessels, although he warned that the evolving situation suggests the cargo ship may be at risk of sinking.
As for public health, the government reported that air quality remained within normal parameters, indicating a very low risk to those living along the coast.
The event prompted a significant rescue operation, involving lifeboats, coast guard aircraft, and commercial vessels, navigating the hazy conditions of the North Sea.
WATCH | Fire aftermath from the Nothern Sea incident:
Smoke rises following a collision in the North Sea, a video captures the ongoing aftermath.
Nearly all of the 37 crew members from both vessels have been safely brought to shore at Grimsby, situated about 240 kilometers north of London, with the notable exception of one missing crew member. The coast guard suspended the search for the missing individual on Monday.
Kane expressed a grim outlook for the missing sailor, stating, “Our working assumption is that, very sadly, the sailor is deceased.”
The U.K. Marine Accident Investigation Branch has initiated a thorough inquiry into the incident to establish the reasons behind the Solong’s collision with the MV Stena Immaculate, which was anchored approximately 16 kilometers off the coast. The investigation will be conducted with the cooperation of U.S. and Portuguese maritime authorities.
Military Fuel Implication
The MV Stena Immaculate, measuring 183 meters in length, served under the U.S. government’s Tanker Security Program, which engages commercial vessels to transport military fuel on demand. The operator, Crowley, a U.S.-based maritime management company, reported that the tanker was carrying 220,000 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel across 16 tanks, at least one of which was breached during the collision.
While the full extent of fuel leakage into the North Sea remains unclear, the owner of the Solong clarified that contrary to earlier assumptions, the cargo ship was not transporting sodium cyanide containers. Instead, it previously held four empty containers of the chemical.
“We are working closely with all local authorities and cleanup teams to minimize any further harm to the marine ecosystem,” the shipping company noted in a recent statement.
Environmental organization Greenpeace U.K. emphasized the need to evaluate the potential ecological damage resulting from the collision, which occurred near significant fishing areas and seabird colonies.
Experts have expressed concern that oil spills and chemical leaks pose a considerable threat to marine life, including whales, dolphins, and coastal birds such as puffins, gannets, and guillemots.
Tom Webb, a senior lecturer in marine ecology at the University of Sheffield, pointed out the crucial biological and economic value of the marine biodiversity along the affected coastline. “This period is particularly critical for migratory species,” he stated.
According to Alex Lukyanov from the University of Reading, the potential environmental impact will hinge on several factors, including the spill’s scale, weather patterns, sea currents, and the specific type of oil involved. He added that the incident was particularly concerning as it involved a persistent type of oil with a slow breakdown rate in water, which could have severe environmental ramifications.
Source
www.cbc.ca