Cargo Ship Solong Strikes U.S. Military Oil Tanker Stena Immaculate in North Sea, Resulting in Fire and Crew Member's Death

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Updated Mar 13, 2025, 09:18 AM

A collision between the cargo ship Solong and the oil tanker Stena Immaculate in the North Sea off the east coast of Yorkshire has resulted in a significant maritime incident. The Solong, a Portuguese-flagged vessel, struck the Stena Immaculate, which was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks for the U.S. military, on Monday morning. The collision led to fires on both vessels, with the Stena Immaculate sustaining a ruptured cargo tank and the Solong continuing to burn. Crowley, the company managing the Stena Immaculate, reported no visible signs of smoke or flame on the tanker, while the Maritime and Coastguard Agency noted small pockets of fire on the Solong. The incident has raised concerns about potential environmental damage due to the release of jet fuel into the North Sea. Despite these concerns, aerial surveillance did not identify any pollution on the water's surface. Of the 37 crew members aboard the vessels, 36 were safely evacuated, with one hospitalized. The search for a missing crew member from the Solong has been called off, and the individual is presumed dead. The 59-year-old Russian captain of the Solong was arrested by Humberside Police on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. UK transport minister Mike Kane stated that something went 'terribly wrong' for the crash to happen, but there was no evidence of foul play. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is leading a safety investigation into the incident, focusing on navigational practices, vessel maintenance, and environmental conditions at the time of the collision. The Solong had previously failed steering-related safety checks, with Irish officials noting 10 deficiencies during a port state control inspection. A salvage plan for both ships is being developed.

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