Tanker leaked kerosene

Oil tanker on the North Sea burned all night long

Flame inferno after the collision of two ships in the North Sea off the British coast

(Bild: AP ( via APA) Austria Presse Agentur)

The tanker Stena Immaculate, which was damaged in a collision off the British coast, was carrying 220,000 barrels (almost 35 million liters) of jet fuel. At least one of 16 tanks was damaged - it is unclear how much fuel leaked into the water. Meanwhile, the cargo ship involved is in danger of sinking. A 59-year-old man has also been arrested in connection with the accident. 

According to Crowley, the US-flagged tanker was rammed by the Portuguese container ship Solong early on Monday morning while anchored off the mouth of the River Humber. It was initially unclear why the accident occurred. The flag states are in charge of the investigation.

First arrest
On Tuesday, the British police announced that an arrest had now been made. The 59-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter. "Extensive action has already been taken and we are working closely with our partners to understand what happened and to offer support to all those affected," said lead investigating officer Craig Nicholson.

Crew members had their hair singed off
According to reports from crew members of the Stena Immaculate who spoke to US broadcaster CBS, a fire broke out immediately after the collision. After initial attempts to extinguish the fire, the crew decided to abandon ship. The flames came so close to the sailors that some of their hair was scorched.

Gaping hole on the port side
Both ships caught fire in the collision. There are said to have been several explosions. The British Secretary of State for Housing, Matthew Pennycock, told "Times Radio" that the fire was still raging. BBC aerial footage showed a gaping hole on the port side of the tanker. No more flames could be seen. However, gas and liquids appeared to be escaping from various places, as could be seen on video footage. British authorities are in the process of assessing the impact on the environment, Pennycock said.

Cargo ship in danger of sinking
The cargo ship Solong, which collided with a tanker and caught fire, could sink according to coastguard estimates, the British news agency PA reported, citing Undersecretary of State Mike Kane. The burning ship is currently drifting south, said Kane in the British House of Commons. "Model calculations suggest that if the Solong continues to float, it will not drift towards land in the next few hours," said Kane.

However, he added that the coastguard considered it unlikely "that the ship will remain afloat". Tug boats were in the vicinity to ensure the Solong stayed away from the coast, he said.

No sodium cyanide on board
Meanwhile, the shipping company of the container ship denied reports that the Solong was carrying several containers of sodium cyanide. Sodium cyanide is a toxic substance that can pollute the ecosystem. However, the containers were empty, according to a statement from the Hamburg-based company Ernst Russ. Should the freighter sink close to land or run aground, however, it is feared that diesel in the ship's tank could pollute the coast.

Search for missing person called off
As the British BBC reported, citing the coastguard, the search for the only missing crew member has been called off. A total of 36 crew members from the oil tanker and the container ship were brought ashore safely, and one person was taken to hospital.

The Dutch salvage company Boskalis was commissioned to salvage the Stena Immaculate. Four ships with extinguishing material were on their way to the scene of the accident, a spokesman said. There was little danger of the tanker breaking apart. The two ships were no longer wedged together.

According to the information provided, the experts will initially cool the tanker from the outside. As soon as the fire is under control, the tanker can be towed to a safe harbor. According to the BBC, the Stena Immaculate was one of several ships that are supposed to ensure that the military can carry out transports as part of a so-called tanker safety program of the US government.

Greenpeace concerned
The environmental protection organization Greenpeace in the UK expressed its concern. "Both the high speed and the videos of the consequences are a cause for great concern," said a spokesperson. However, it is still too early to determine the extent of the damage to the environment. A spokesman for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it was an "extremely worrying situation". Without knowing further details, the cause of the accident would not be speculated upon.