U.S. Tanker Stena Immaculate and Solong Collide in North Sea, Sparking Fire; Russian Captain Arrested

A collision occurred in the North Sea off the coast of East Yorkshire, England, between the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship Solong and the U.S.-flagged oil tanker Stena Immaculate. The incident, which took place on Monday, resulted in fires on both vessels and the rescue of 36 people, with one crew member from the Solong still missing and presumed dead. The Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels, or approximately 35 million litres, of jet fuel for the U.S. military at the time of the collision. The impact caused at least one of its fuel tanks to rupture, leading to a jet fuel spill and concerns about environmental damage. The Solong was en route from Grangemouth, Scotland, to Rotterdam, Netherlands, when it struck the anchored Stena Immaculate. A 59-year-old Russian national, the captain of the Solong, has been arrested by Humberside Police on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision. The rest of the Solong's crew consisted of Russian and Filipino nationals. The Stena Immaculate's crew, all American and operated by Crowley, were reported to be in good health following the incident. The owner of the Solong, Ernst Russ, stated that the surviving crew members are receiving support. Investigations into the cause of the collision are ongoing, with no evidence of foul play found so far. The Solong had previously failed steering-related safety checks in Ireland and Scotland, raising questions about the vessel's maintenance and operational safety. As of the latest reports, there are no visible flames on either ship, and efforts are being made to stabilize and assess the damage.