2025 North Sea ship collision
{{Short description|Collision between two ships in the North Sea}}
{{Redirect|North Sea ship collision|the crash near Heligoland|2023 Heligoland ship collision}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox event
| date = 10 March 2025
| image = {{multiple image
|border = infobox
|total_width =220px
|direction = vertical
|align = center
|caption_align = center
|image1 = 4a MV Solong Aarhus 220918.jpg
|alt1 = A container ship
|caption1 = MV Solong (pictured in 2018)
|image2 = SEAWAY STRASHNOV & STENA IMMACULATE (49232159963).jpg
|alt2 = A docked oil tanker
|caption2 = MV Stena Immaculate (pictured in 2019)
}}
| Location = North Sea off Spurn Head, East Yorkshire, United Kingdom
| coordinates = {{Wikidatacoord|Q133251327|display=inline,title}}
| type = Ship collision
| reported injuries = 1
| missing =
| fatalities = 1 (presumed)
}}
On 10 March 2025, the container ship MV Solong collided{{refn|In nautical terms, a collision is between two ships which are underway, i.e. moving. An engagement between a ship which is underway and a motionless object, such as a vessel at anchor, is formally known as an "allision".{{Cite book |page=216 |last=Black |first=Henry Campbell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PNQgVoT2_aQC&dq=allision&pg=PA216 |title=A Law Dictionary Containing Definitions of the Terms and Phrases of American and English Jurisprudence, Ancient and Modern ... |date=1995 |publisher=The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd. |isbn=978-1-886363-10-6 }}{{cite journal |last1=Healy |first1=Nicholas J. |last2=Sweeney |first2=Joseph C. |title=Basic Principles of the Law of Collision |journal=Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce |date=July–October 1991 |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=359–404 }}{{Cite book |last=Garner |first=Bryan A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=35dZpfMmxqsC&dq=allision&pg=PA171 |title=A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage |date=2001 |page=171 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-514236-5 }} Maritime law treats the two differently: in an allision, the moving vessel is generally presumed to be at fault.{{Cite journal |last=Parker |first=Bradley S. |date=2007 |title=Recent Developments in Admiralty and Maritime Law |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25763835 |journal=Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal |volume=42 |issue=2 |pages=233–249 |jstor=25763835 |issn=1543-3234 |archive-date=23 March 2025 |access-date=11 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250323213020/https://www.jstor.org/stable/25763835 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=18 December 2018 |title=A Costly Lapse in Judgment |url=https://www.marinelink.com/news/a-costly-lapse-judgment-460889 |access-date=10 May 2024 |website=MarineLink }} This usually makes it easier to prove liability, shortening post-crash legal wrangling.{{Cite web |date=23 January 2019 |title=Allision (Not Collision) Nautical Term Definition |url=https://naylorlaw.com/blog/allision/ |access-date=10 May 2024 |website=Law Offices of Charles D. Naylor |archive-date=10 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510020555/https://naylorlaw.com/blog/allision/ |url-status=live }}|group=note}} with the oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate, which was at anchor in the North Sea off the coast of East Yorkshire.
Solong, a Portuguese ship flagged out of Madeira, was carrying alcohol, but was also initially thought to have been carrying sodium cyanide. The US-registered Stena Immaculate was carrying aviation fuel on a charter for the United States Air Force (USAF); both ships also had a supply of heavy fuel for their own use. Following several explosions, both vessels caught fire and were abandoned. They remained entangled for the rest of the day, when they separated. Solong began to drift. Thirty-six people were rescued, with one hospitalised, and one missing, presumed dead.
There was no indication of any third-party or malicious involvement in the crash, and primary concerns were to limit potential environmental damage from leaking aviation and ship fuel. A rescue operation involving several European countries was delayed due to fog.
An investigation involving the two flagged countries and the UK was announced on 11 March. The same day, Humberside Police opened a criminal investigation and arrested the captain of Solong. On 14 March he was charged with gross negligence manslaughter.
Involved ships
File:Vessel comparison for the 2025 North Sea collision.svg
The vessels involved were the Portuguese-registered container ship MV Solong, flagged out of Madeira, and the US-registered oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate.{{Cite web |title=SOLONG, Container Ship - Details and current position - IMO 9322554 - VesselFinder |url=https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/details/9322554 |access-date=10 March 2025 |website=Vesselfinder.com }}
=MV ''Solong'' =
File:Solong - Aberdeen South Harbour.jpg
Solong is a feeder vessel{{Cite web |url=https://www.tradewindsnews.com/tankers/-multiple-explosions-crew-of-us-flag-tanker-abandon-ship-after-collision-with-container-vessel/2-1-1790299 |title='Multiple explosions': Crew of US-flag tanker abandon ship after collision with container vessel |first1=Holly |last1=Birkett |first2=Paul |last2=Peachey |first3=Ian |last3=Lewis |date=10 March 2025 |website=TradeWinds |access-date=11 March 2025 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=11 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250311230121/https://www.tradewindsnews.com/tankers/-multiple-explosions-crew-of-us-flag-tanker-abandon-ship-after-collision-with-container-vessel/2-1-1790299 |url-status=live }} {{Convert|140|m|ftin}} long, with a capacity of 804 twenty-foot equivalent units. She was built in 2005 and owned by {{ill|Ernst Russ AG|de|Ernst Russ}},{{cite web |title=Fleet List |url=https://www.ernst-russ.de/en/fleet/fleet-list.html |website=Ernst Russ AG |access-date=11 March 2025 }} a publicly-traded Hamburg-based shipping firm. Her cargo included alcohol,{{Cite web |date=11 March 2025 |title=Everything we know about North Sea oil tanker and cargo vessel collision |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/north-sea-oil-tanker-cargo-collision-stena-immaculate-yorkshire-b2712621.html |access-date=11 March 2025 |newspaper=The Independent }} and early reports also indicated that she was also transporting 15 containers of sodium cyanide, a toxic chemical.{{Cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Jabed |date=10 March 2025 |title=North Sea collision - latest: 'Massive fireball' after oil tanker hit by cargo ship 'carrying sodium cyanide' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/north-sea-collision-oil-tanker-cargo-vessel-live-updates-b2712185.html |access-date=10 March 2025 |newspaper=The Independent }}{{Cite web |date=11 March 2025 |title=North Sea tanker and cargo ship have become 'disentangled' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gm52dlg35o |access-date=11 March 2025 |website=BBC News }} However, Ernst Russ subsequently described this as "misrepresentation", saying that although it had previously carried the chemical, there were only four empty tanks that had contained it on board.{{Cite web |title=North Sea crash: Solong ship unlikely to stay afloat but wasn't carrying sodium cyanide, owners say |url=https://news.sky.com/story/north-sea-crash-solong-ship-unlikely-to-stay-afloat-but-wasnt-carrying-sodium-cyanide-owners-say-13326335 |access-date=11 March 2025 |website=Sky News |archive-date=11 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250311180842/https://news.sky.com/story/north-sea-crash-solong-ship-unlikely-to-stay-afloat-but-wasnt-carrying-sodium-cyanide-owners-say-13326335 |url-status=live }} The captain was a Russian national, and the remaining 13 crew were Russian or Filipino.{{Cite web |title=Cargo ship captain arrested in North Sea collision with US-flagged tanker is Russian national, owner says |access-date=12 March 2025 |website=CNN News |date=12 March 2025 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/12/uk/solong-captain-russian-stena-north-sea-crash-intl-gbr/index.html |archive-date=12 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312113324/https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/12/uk/solong-captain-russian-stena-north-sea-crash-intl-gbr/index.html |url-status=live }}
In July 2024 Solong was reported in Irish safety checks to have ten outstanding issues including emergency steering compass not readable, inadequate alarms, poorly maintained survival craft and fire door deficiencies. In October 2024 a Scottish inspection noted lifebuoys were inadequately marked. Ernst Russ reported that all identified safety issues had been rectified. Similar issues had been reported in previous inspections, but this is not considered unusual in ships of this age and faults were not sufficient to prevent the ship sailing, rather being advisory to carry out repairs. The ship had taken an almost identical route through the anchorage where the collision occurred several times in the last few months. Solong was towed in to Aberdeen in late March.
=MV ''Stena Immaculate''=
Stena Immaculate is an {{ill|IMOIIMAX-class tanker|de|IMOIIMAX-Klasse|lt=IMOIIMAX-class}} chemical products carrier (also described as an oil tanker) and is {{Convert|183|m|ftin}} long with a beam of {{Convert|32|m|ft}}, a deadweight tonnage of 49,729 and a gross tonnage of 29,666.{{Cite news |date=10 March 2025 |title=Crew of oil tanker alive after collision with ship off UK |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/uk/2025/0310/1501216-tanker/ |website=Rte.ie |access-date=10 March 2025 |archive-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310151557/https://www.rte.ie/news/uk/2025/0310/1501216-tanker/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/collision-oil-tanker-cargo-ship-north-sea/ |title=U.S.-flagged tanker, cargo ship in North Sea collision off coast of England, setting both vessels on fire |work=CBS News |date=10 March 2025 |access-date=10 March 2025 }} She was built in 2017 at the Guangzhou Shipyard International with the yard number 12130009, and is owned by Stena AB and operated by Crowley Maritime of Florida.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgq1pwjlqq2t |title=North Sea tanker: Jet fuel spills into North Sea after tanker collision, as 37 people brought ashore |website=BBC News |date=10 March 2025 |access-date=10 March 2025 |archive-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310121022/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgq1pwjlqq2t |url-status=live }} She was on a short-term charter{{Cite web |last=Hutchins |first=Rob |date=11 March 2025 |title=Fear of 'environmental harm' after North Sea oil tanker collision |url=https://oceanographicmagazine.com/news/fear-of-environmental-harm-after-north-sea-oil-tanker-collision/ |access-date=11 March 2025 |website=Oceanographic }} to the US government as part of the US Government Tanker Security Program and was transporting {{convert|220000|oilbbl|L USgal|lk=in}}{{Cite news |last1=Corfield |first1=Gareth |last2=McArdle |first2=Tom |date=10 March 2025 |title=Crashed container ship was carrying toxic sodium cyanide - latest |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/10/oil-tanker-cargo-ship-collide-north-sea/ |access-date=10 March 2025 |work=The Telegraph |url-access=subscription |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310135115/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/10/oil-tanker-cargo-ship-collide-north-sea/ |url-status=live }} of Jet A-1 aviation fuel{{Cite web |url=https://www.tradewindsnews.com/tankers/tanker-and-container-ship-on-fire-after-collision-in-the-north-sea/2-1-1790299 |title=Tanker and container ship 'on fire' after collision in the North Sea |first1=Holly |last1=Birkett |first2=Paul |last2=Peachey |first3=Ian |last3=Lewis |date=10 March 2025 |website=TradeWinds |url-access=subscription }} in 16 secure tanks to the Port of Killingholme, Lincolnshire, for the use of the United States Air Force.{{Cite web |title=North Sea crash latest: Sailor describes moment 'massive ship' came from 'out of the blue' {{!}} Latest |url=https://news.sky.com/story/north-sea-latest-oil-tanker-and-cargo-collide-in-north-sea-with-reports-of-fires-on-both-ships-13325750 |access-date=11 March 2025 |website=Sky News }} All 23 crew were USA nationals.{{Cite web |title=Video shows moment container ship crashes into US oil tanker in North Sea |access-date=13 March 2025 |date=12 March 2025 |url=https://news.sky.com/story/video-shows-moment-container-ship-crashes-into-us-oil-tanker-in-north-sea-13327178 |website=Sky News |archive-date=12 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312165820/https://news.sky.com/story/video-shows-moment-container-ship-crashes-into-us-oil-tanker-in-north-sea-13327178 |url-status=live }} Stena Immaculate was towed in to Great Yarmouth, Norfolk on 11 April.{{cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2025-04-11/north-sea-tanker-towed-into-port-one-month-after-collision |title=North Sea tanker collision: Stena Immaculate towed into Great Yarmouth port one month after crash |publisher=ITV Consumer Limited |accessdate=11 April 2025 }}
Incident
File:2025 North Sea ship collision.png
Solong had departed from Grangemouth and was en route to Rotterdam,{{cite news |title=Ships believed to be Stena Immaculate and Solong |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgq1pwjlqq2t?post=asset%3Acb711a12-c4f3-4cb2-8e5a-efbb5fae9ced#post |access-date=10 March 2025 |work=BBC News |date=10 March 2025 |archive-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310132157/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgq1pwjlqq2t?post=asset:cb711a12-c4f3-4cb2-8e5a-efbb5fae9ced#post |url-status=live }} due to arrive on the evening of 10 March. Stena Immaculate had travelled from Agioi Theodoroi in Greece, and was at anchor{{cite news |title=Maps show path vessels took before collision |url=https://news.sky.com/story/north-sea-latest-oil-tanker-and-cargo-collide-in-north-sea-with-reports-of-fires-on-both-ships-13325750?postid=9254024#liveblog-body |access-date=10 March 2025 |work=Sky News |date=10 March 2025 |archive-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310164114/https://news.sky.com/story/north-sea-latest-oil-tanker-and-cargo-collide-in-north-sea-with-reports-of-fires-on-both-ships-13325750?postid=9254024#liveblog-body |url-status=live }}{{cite news |date=10 March 2025 |title=Ships involved in the collision named |url=https://news.sky.com/story/north-sea-latest-oil-tanker-and-cargo-collide-in-north-sea-with-reports-of-fires-on-both-ships-13325750?postid=9254036#liveblog-body |access-date=10 March 2025 |work=Sky News |archive-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310155216/https://news.sky.com/story/north-sea-latest-oil-tanker-and-cargo-collide-in-north-sea-with-reports-of-fires-on-both-ships-13325750?postid=9254036#liveblog-body |url-status=live }} {{Convert|14|nmi|km}} north-east of Spurn Head,{{Cite news |date=11 March 2025 |title=North Sea collision timeline: How devastating oil tanker crash unfolded |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/north-sea-collision-oil-tanker-timeline-map-b2712800.html |access-date=11 March 2025 |newspaper=The Independent }}{{cite web |title=Update: 36 crew accounted for after allision off UK |url=https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/accidents/uk-coastguard-launches-rescue-mission-after-tanker-and-box-ship-collide |date=10 March 2025 |website=Seatrade-maritime.com |access-date=13 March 2025 |language=en }} waiting to arrive at Killingholme.{{Cite web |url=https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/details/9693018 |title=STENA IMMACULATE, Chemical/Oil Products Tanker - Details and current position - IMO 9693018 - VesselFinder |website=Vesselfinder.com |access-date=11 March 2025 |archive-date=11 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250311025707/https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/details/9693018 |url-status=live }} This location was a common but uncharted anchorage for vessels off the Humber;{{Cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/10/oil-tanker-cargo-ship-collide-north-sea/ |title=Oil tanker and cargo ship collision in North Sea - latest |first1=Gareth |last1=Corfield |first2=Tom |last2=McArdle |work=The Telegraph |url-access=subscription |date=10 March 2025 }} five other tankers and three bulk carriers were also anchored at this location at the time of the collision.{{Cite web |url=https://news.sky.com/story/why-did-the-ships-crash-in-the-north-sea-what-tracking-data-and-inspection-reports-reveal-13327024 |title=Why did the ships crash in the North Sea? What tracking data and inspection reports reveal |access-date=13 March 2025 |date=12 March 2025 |website=Sky News |archive-date=16 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250316151002/https://news.sky.com/story/why-did-the-ships-crash-in-the-north-sea-what-tracking-data-and-inspection-reports-reveal-13327024 |url-status=live }}
At 01:30 GMT on 10 March, Solong passed Longstone Lighthouse off the Northumberland coast, before taking a 150° heading.{{cite web |title=Statement on the collision between Solong and Stena Immaculate |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/statement-on-the-collision-between-solong-and-stena-immaculate |website=GOV.UK |access-date=13 March 2025 |language=en |archive-date=13 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250313104417/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/statement-on-the-collision-between-solong-and-stena-immaculate |url-status=live }} At 09:47, it struck Stena Immaculate at a cruising speed of around {{convert|16.4|kn|kph}}.{{cite web |title=Video: The moment Solong crashed into the Stena Immaculate |url=https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/accidents/video-the-moment-solong-crashed-into-the-stena-immaculate |website=www.seatrade-maritime.com |publisher=SeatradeMaritime |access-date=13 March 2025 |language=en }}{{cite web |last1=Noble |first1=Phil |date=11 March 2025 |title=UK tanker collision leaves two ships burning, one expected to sink |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/fires-burn-after-ships-collide-off-uk-stoking-fears-over-environment-2025-03-11/ |access-date=11 March 2025 |website=Reuters }} Crews reported multiple explosions. Abdul Khalique, head of Liverpool John Moores University's Maritime Centre, said that "MV Stena Immaculate{{'}}s heading was approx around 065° when she was hit on her port side by MV Solong at 9:48:07 between the rear half of MV Stena Immaculate{{'}}s length". The ships may have remained connected for up to four minutes until disengaging.{{Cite news |last1=Corfield |first1=Gareth |last2=McArdle |first2=Tom |date=10 March 2025 |title=Oil tanker and cargo ship collision in North Sea - latest |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/10/oil-tanker-cargo-ship-collide-north-sea/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=10 March 2025 |work=The Telegraph |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310135115/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/10/oil-tanker-cargo-ship-collide-north-sea/ |url-status=live }} Only one of the tanker's cargo tank compartments was ruptured.{{cite news |author=Kevin Shoesmith |title=North Sea ship collision: First photo of oil tanker crew released |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj3npryp6y7o |access-date=18 March 2025 |work=www.bbc.com |date=18 March 2025 }}{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Christian |date=10 March 2025 |title=Cargo vessel collides with US-flagged tanker carrying jet fuel off UK coast, causing huge fire |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/10/uk/uk-yorkshire-ship-tanker-collision-intl-gbr/index.html |access-date=10 March 2025 |website=CNN }}
Early reports suggested that a "massive fireball" had engulfed the tanker after the collision, which remained on fire with her cargo leaking into the sea. Her on-board fire suppression system appears to have functioned as required. Solong was also reported to be on fire. HM Coastguard was alerted to the incident at 09:48.{{cite news |title=Coastguard statement in full |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgq1pwjlqq2t?post=asset%3A56fdc55f-8319-4578-9d1a-6e338ff9635b#post |access-date=10 March 2025 |work=BBC News |date=10 March 2025 }} RNLI crews from Bridlington, Mablethorpe, Skegness, and Cleethorpes were deployed.{{cite news |title=Reports of people abandoning vessels after collision - RNLI |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgq1pwjlqq2t?post=asset%3Aea370a40-baec-4a16-a9c5-e00bd9c96a17#post |access-date=10 March 2025 |work=BBC News |date=10 March 2025 |archive-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310132200/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgq1pwjlqq2t?post=asset:ea370a40-baec-4a16-a9c5-e00bd9c96a17#post |url-status=live }} A crew transfer vessel was in the area already, and rescue helicopter, boats and a fire-fighting aircraft were also deployed. Occupants of both vessels abandoned ship. The Port of Grimsby East stated that 32 people had been brought ashore,{{cite news |title=Total of 32 casualties reported |url=https://news.sky.com/story/north-sea-latest-oil-tanker-and-cargo-collide-in-north-sea-with-reports-of-fires-on-both-ships-13325750?postid=9254261#liveblog-body |access-date=10 March 2025 |work=Sky News |date=10 March 2025 |archive-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310163347/https://news.sky.com/story/north-sea-latest-oil-tanker-and-cargo-collide-in-north-sea-with-reports-of-fires-on-both-ships-13325750?postid=9254261#liveblog-body |url-status=live }} but others were unaccounted for.{{cite news |title=More than more than 20 casualties brought ashore |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgq1pwjlqq2t?post=asset%3A05576375-e960-4009-9243-4b3d4447c62c#post |access-date=10 March 2025 |work=BBC News |date=10 March 2025 |archive-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310164328/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgq1pwjlqq2t?post=asset:05576375-e960-4009-9243-4b3d4447c62c#post |url-status=live }} One person was hospitalised.{{cite news |last1=Vinter |first1=Robyn |title='Out of the blue': search for answers goes on after North Sea tanker collision |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/11/out-of-the-blue-search-for-answers-goes-on-after-north-sea-tanker-collision |access-date=13 March 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=11 March 2025 }} Stena Bulk confirmed that all 20 onboard Stena Immaculate had been accounted for and were safe,{{cite news |title=All crew on Stena Immaculate accounted for and safe |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgq1pwjlqq2t?post=asset%3Aa36141bf-4a93-441d-8cc7-189c22e280bd#post |access-date=10 March 2025 |work=BBC News |date=10 March 2025 |archive-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310165517/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgq1pwjlqq2t?post=asset:a36141bf-4a93-441d-8cc7-189c22e280bd#post |url-status=live }} but by nightfall one member from Solong, a Filipino national,{{cite web |title=Missing Filipino seafarer in North Sea collision identified |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/3/15/missing-filipino-seafarer-in-north-sea-collision-identified-2233 |website=ABS-CBN |access-date=15 March 2025 |date=15 March 2025 }} was missing after having entered the water and not been among those rescued. The search was called off later that night, the crewmember presumed dead.{{cite web |title=North Sea collision: Cargo ship still on fire as owner says no deadly sodium cyanide on board |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2025-03-11/search-for-missing-crew-member-in-north-sea-cargo-ship-crash-called-off |website=ITV News |access-date=11 March 2025 |date=11 March 2025 }}
The Met Office had issued a warning of fog for the Humber area which was valid at the time of the incident,{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/north-sea-collision-oil-tanker-cargo-vessel-live-updates-b2712185.html |title=Fog and misty conditions predicated(sic) for Humber area |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=10 March 2025 |last1=Ahmed |first1=Jabed }}{{cite news |last1=Ahmed |first1=Jabed |title=North Sea collision - latest: One person still missing from cargo ship @carrying sodium cyanide' that hit oil tanker |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/north-sea-collision-oil-tanker-cargo-vessel-live-updates-b2712185.html |access-date=10 March 2025 |newspaper=The Independent |date=10 March 2025 }}{{cite news |author1=Jabed Ahmed |author2=Holly Evans |author3=Barney Davis |title=North Sea collision - latest: One person still missing from cargo ship 'carrying sodium cyanide' that hit oil tanker |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/north-sea-tanker-crash-latest-oil-ship-bursts-into-massive-fireball-after-colliding-with-cargo-vessel/ar-AA1ABKsI |access-date=10 March 2025 |website=Msn.com }} although this would not affect the ships' automatic identification systems (AIS) and they would still be able to warn other vessels of their approach.{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2025/mar/10/coastguard-oil-tanker-cargo-vessel-north-sea-collision-live-latest-news |title=One person in hospital but all crew accounted for after North Sea ships collide, says local MP – live |first1=Tom |last1=Ambrose |first2=Martin |last2=Belam |work=The Guardian |date=10 March 2025 }}
Aftermath
A {{Convert|3|nmi|km|adj=on|spell=in}}, {{Convert|2000|ft|adj=on}} no-fly zone was imposed around the affected area, with a {{Convert|1|km|mi|adj=on|spell=in}} exclusion zone around each vessel.{{Cite web |last1=Ludlow |first1=Mark |last2=Yeomans |first2=Emma |last3=Hamilton |first3=Fiona |last4=Vaughan |first4=Adam |last5=Clatworthy |first5=Ben |last6=Mitib |first6=Ali |date=11 March 2025 |title=North Sea collision latest: burning cargo ship 'could sink within hours' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/environment/article/north-sea-collision-cargo-tanker-oil-spill-latest-news-w6vc9pcjz |access-date=11 March 2025 |website=Thetimes.com |archive-date=11 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250311111006/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/environment/article/north-sea-collision-cargo-tanker-oil-spill-latest-news-w6vc9pcjz |url-status=live }} All maritime traffic was confined to port along the east coast.{{Cite news |last1=Diver |first1=Tony |last2=Corfield |first2=Gareth |last3=McArdle |first3=Tom |last4=Bolton |first4=Will |date=10 March 2025 |title=Foul play not ruled out after US oil tanker crash in North Sea |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/10/oil-tanker-cargo-ship-collide-north-sea/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=11 March 2025 |work=The Telegraph |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310212550/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/10/oil-tanker-cargo-ship-collide-north-sea/ |url-status=live }} Thick black smoke and fires still burned on 11 March, hampering early investigation, and further fires were suspected below decks.{{Cite web |title=North Sea crash latest: Missing sailor presumed dead - with Solong cargo ship still on fire and likely to sink |url=https://news.sky.com/story/north-sea-latest-oil-tanker-and-cargo-collide-in-north-sea-with-reports-of-fires-on-both-ships-13325750 |access-date=11 March 2025 |website=Sky News |archive-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310223807/https://news.sky.com/story/north-sea-latest-oil-tanker-and-cargo-collide-in-north-sea-with-reports-of-fires-on-both-ships-13325750 |url-status=live }}
The two ships initially remained entangled, but separated overnight of their own accord, and although the fire on board Stena Immaculate was still burning the next day, it had greatly reduced in intensity. The ship had sustained a large hole in its side and was seen to be taking on water, although on-board generators were still operating. Solong drifted into the Humber, shadowed by several tugboats. Badly damaged and still alight after the fire on Stena Immaculate had burnt out, Solong was initially considered likely to sink, whilst Stena Immaculate was built with a double hull and watertight compartments designed to mitigate the possibility.{{Cite news |title=Tanker collision latest: Man, 59, arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter over North Sea collision |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgq1pwjlqq2t |access-date=11 March 2025 |website=BBC News }} By the afternoon of 11 March, both ships were considered likely to remain afloat.{{cite news |last1=Mistry |first1=Pritti |last2=Harratt |first2=Stuart |last3=Shoesmith |first3=Kevin |date=11 March 2025 |title=Cargo ship's captain arrested over North Sea crash |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1w093exx4qo |access-date=11 March 2025 |website=BBC News |archive-date=11 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250311192945/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1w093exx4qo |url-status=live }} By 15 March, Solong had drifted several miles to the south and could be seen off the Lincolnshire coast. Stena Immaculate remained at anchor where she had been struck. Firefighting tugs were in the vicinity of both vessels, although by this point only isolated pockets of fire were present on Solong. Salvors had boarded both vessels to assess damage, and aerial surveillance indicated risks of further environmental damage were minimal.{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Harry |title=Russian ship captain charged with manslaughter appears at Hull court |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/15/russian-ship-captain-charged-with-manslaughter-appears-at-hull-court |website=The Guardian |date=15 March 2025 }}
Investigation
The Telegraph subsequently reported that UK government sources had not ruled out the possibility of "foul play", although early reports did not indicate third-party involvement or other malicious activity. The US government also refused to rule out criminal activity, "amid questions about why the cargo ship{{Nbsp}}[...] appeared not to slow down or change course before striking the Stena Immaculate{{-"}}.{{Cite news |last1=Vinter |first1=Robyn |last2=Halliday |first2=Josh |date=11 March 2025 |title=North Sea collision may have 'devastating' impact on marine life, says expert |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/11/north-sea-collision-may-have-devastating-impact-on-marine-life-says-expert |access-date=11 March 2025 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077 }} The governments of the United States and Portugal announced their own investigations into the crash on 11 March, which would work alongside that of the UK.{{Cite web |last=Keate |first=Noah |date=11 March 2025 |title=North Sea oil tanker fire still raging as US probes causes |url=https://www.eenews.net/articles/north-sea-oil-tanker-fire-still-raging-as-us-probes-causes/ |access-date=11 March 2025 |website=E&E News by POLITICO |archive-date=11 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250311122407/https://www.eenews.net/articles/north-sea-oil-tanker-fire-still-raging-as-us-probes-causes/ |url-status=live }}
= Analysis =
Chris Parry, a retired rear admiral with the Royal Navy, believed that the crash was caused by negligence, based on the likelihood of anchored ships being present in the area and the danger of travelling through at speed. It was a particularly busy area for shipping as it was a direct route to the Netherlands and Germany, as well as Scandinavia. Maritime analyst David McFarlane stated the AIS can provide warning of other vessels within {{convert|24|mi|km}}, and that both ships should have had lookouts. He also noted that a ship at anchor could take up to an hour to raise it, which would impede its ability to avoid a collision. A computer reconstruction by Khalique suggested that the lookouts may not have been performing their duties optimally; while fog would have hampered visibility for them, they may not have been checking their radar.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is leading an investigation with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Portuguese Marine Safety Investigation Authority, part of which will involve recovery of the vessels' voyage data recorders. The investigation's early findings reported that Solong was travelling a route it regularly took.
On 3 April 2025 the MAIB released an interim report, with new images of the incident. The report said "Neither Solong nor Stena Immaculate had a dedicated lookout on the bridge." The MAIB said its full investigation would examine "navigation and watchkeeping practices, manning and fatigue management, the condition and maintenance of the vessels involved and the environmental conditions at the time of crash."{{Cite web |first=Richard |last=Madden |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx27l1gp29no |title=Tanker and ship had no 'lookouts' before North Sea crash, says report |date=3 April 2025 |website=BBC News |access-date=3 April 2025 }}
= Legal =
After the Coastguard called off the search for the missing crewmember on 11 March, Humberside Police opened a criminal investigation and arrested Solong{{'}}s 59-year-old Russian captain on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.{{Cite web |title=North Sea crash latest: Man arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter |url=https://news.sky.com/story/north-sea-latest-oil-tanker-and-cargo-collide-in-north-sea-with-reports-of-fires-on-both-ships-13325750 |access-date=11 March 2025 |website=Sky News }}{{cite news |date=12 March 2025 |title=Arrested ship's captain is Russian national, owners say |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c30mj5gq9d5o |work=BBC News }} On 14 March he was charged with the offence and was remanded in police custody to appear at Hull Magistrates Court the following day.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3y400xe2ro |title=Ship captain charged over North Sea collision |date=14 March 2025 |website=BBC News }} On 15 March no application for bail was made and the captain was remanded in custody. No pleas were entered and he appeared on 14 April at the Old Bailey to confirm his identity;{{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/crime/general/russian-captain-of-ship-involved-in-north-sea-crash-appears-in-court/ar-AA1B4D7i |title=Russian captain of ship involved in North Sea crash appears in court |website=Msn.com |access-date=17 March 2025}} the case is due to proceed on 30 May 2025.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2lz79q2y1vo |title=Cargo ship crash captain appears in court |website=BBC.com|access-date=21 April 2025}}
Impact
The coastguard reported that "the incident remains ongoing and an assessment of the likely counter pollution response required is being enacted", while Greenpeace UK stated it was too early to calculate the environmental damage. Aviation fuel had begun to leak, raising fears for local bird and aquatic life.{{Cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Jabed |date=10 March 2025 |title=North Sea: Everything we know about oil tanker and cargo vessel collision off Yorkshire coast |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/north-sea-collision-oil-tanker-cargo-vessel-live-updates-b2712185.html |access-date=10 March 2025 |newspaper=The Independent |archive-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310125623/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/north-sea-collision-oil-tanker-cargo-vessel-live-updates-b2712185.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Craven |first1=David |title=Toxic substances could endanger hundreds of thousands of birds along Yorkshire coast says Wildlife Trust |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/yorkshire-tanker-collision-environment-b2712765.html#:~:text=Hundreds%20of%20thousands%20of%20birds%20along%20the%20Yorkshire,with%20a%20cargo%20vessel%20in%20the%20North%20Sea. |access-date=18 March 2025 |newspaper=The Independent |date=11 March 2025 |archive-date=18 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318012510/https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/yorkshire-tanker-collision-environment-b2712765.html#:~:text=Hundreds%20of%20thousands%20of%20birds%20along%20the%20Yorkshire,with%20a%20cargo%20vessel%20in%20the%20North%20Sea. |url-status=live }} While it is less viscous than crude, so should not clog birds' feathers, it is poisonous.{{Cite web |title=Jet fuel and sodium cyanide: How North Sea ship crash could have lethal consequences for wildlife |url=https://news.sky.com/story/jet-fuel-and-sodium-cyanide-how-north-sea-ship-crash-could-have-lethal-consequences-for-wildlife-13325891 |access-date=11 March 2025 |website=Sky News }} The heavy fuel powering both ships, however, is thick enough to smother birds, although in the aftermath of the crash it was unknown if this, as well as the aviation fuel, had leaked.
Animals likely to be affected included puffins, razorbills, gannets and kittiwakes. Due to the approach of nesting season, birds were gathering off shore as well as on local mudflats and other protected areas such as Holderness conservation zone. Also thought to be at risk were grey seals, porpoises, various species of cetaceans, ocean quahogs, oysters, seagrass and commercial fish stocks.{{Cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Jabed |date=10 March 2025 |title=North Sea collision - latest: Fuel leak from US tanker crash could hit UK coastline and 'devastate' wildlife |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/north-sea-oil-tanker-collision-cargo-ship-sodium-cyanide-latest-b2712660.html |access-date=11 March 2025 |newspaper=The Independent |archive-date=11 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250311061137/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/north-sea-oil-tanker-collision-cargo-ship-sodium-cyanide-latest-b2712660.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last1=Corfield |first1=Gareth |last2=McArdle |url-access=subscription |first2=Tom |date=10 March 2025 |title=Cargo ship collision live: Vessel was carrying toxic sodium cyanide |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/10/oil-tanker-cargo-ship-collide-north-sea/ |access-date=10 March 2025 |work=The Telegraph |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310135115/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/10/oil-tanker-cargo-ship-collide-north-sea/ |url-status=live }} The MAIB organised a unit to begin an assessment, comprising specialist pollution experts, international firefighters, marine chemists, and hazardous materials experts. Dutch salvage company Boskalis was awarded the contract to salvage Stena Immaculate, and sent a specialist gas engineer, to measure the extent to which harmful substances were released.
The cost of the damage was estimated at around tens of millions of pounds. While it was Solong which had hit Stena Immaculate, environmental lawyers noted that it was the latter's owners who were strictly liable for the contents of its cargo, and any damage caused by it, while both ships' owners would be liable for damage caused by any fuel leaks, although under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 the British government is likely to underwrite the immediate costs of clean up and rescue.{{Refn|Possibly attempting to recover these costs from the vessels' owners and insurers later on.|group=note}} Other affected parties, such as fishermen, local government and tourist operators could also claim.
On 17 March it was reported that "nurdles", small pieces of plastic resin used in plastics manufacturing, had begun to be washed ashore. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) reported that they had been initially alerted to the hazard, just off the Wash, by the RNLI, on 16 March.{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/north-sea-collision-latest-plastic-pellets-pollution-b2716570.html |title=Wildlife at risk after plastic pellets spill into North Sea following ship collision |date=17 March 2025 |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=18 March 2025 |archive-date=17 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250317181647/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/north-sea-collision-latest-plastic-pellets-pollution-b2716570.html |url-status=live }}
Notes
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References
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{{2025 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:North Sea ship collision, 2025}}
Category:2025 disasters in the United Kingdom
Category:2020s in the East Riding of Yorkshire
Category:March 2025 in the United Kingdom