Arrest and environmental concerns: What is known about the ship collision in the North Sea
The captain of the container ship "Solong", which collided with the US tanker "Stena Immaculate" off the British North Sea coast on Monday, is a 59-year-old Russian citizen. The Hamburg shipping company Ernst Russ, owner of the "Solong", confirmed this to various media. The captain was arrested by the British police on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter. A crew member of the "Solong" was in distress at sea during the accident. The search for the missing man has now been suspended.
Course of the accident and investigations
The collision triggered fires on both ships and caused considerable damage. The exact cause of the collision remains unclear even two days after the incident. According to the US company Crowley, operator of the "Stena Immaculate", the "Solong" rammed into the anchored tanker near the mouth of the River Humber.
The investigations are being led by the USA and Portugal, as the ships are flying their flags. The British Maritime Safety Authority has also launched an investigation. The British Secretary of State, Matthew Pennycook, emphasised that so far there is no evidence that the accident was caused deliberately.
The ship collision has these consequences for the environment
The "Stena Immaculate" was transporting 220,000 barrels (almost 35 million litres) of jet fuel for the US Air Force aircraft stationed in the UK on behalf of the US Department of Defence. At least one tank was damaged in the collision, leading to explosions and fuel leaks. The British Coastguard believes that marine pollution is likely. Greenpeace expressed great concern in view of the high speed of the collision and the visible consequences.
Rescue measures and current situation
A total of 36 crew members from both ships were brought ashore safely and one person received medical treatment. The search for the missing seaman from the "Solong" was suspended on Monday evening. The firefighting and safety measures are still ongoing. The coastguard fears that the "Solong" could sink. According to the responsible Secretary of State Mike Kane, the ship is currently drifting southwards, but is not expected to drift towards land in the next few hours.
The Dutch salvage company Boskalis is working on securing the ships. The "Stena Immaculate" is stable and the fire on board has now been extinguished. The tanker will first be cooled from the outside before it can be towed to a safe harbour. The risk of it breaking apart is estimated to be low. The situation on the "Solong" is more critical. Aerial photographs taken by the BBC show that the freighter is largely burnt out.
Safety concerns on board the "Solong"
According to British media reports, there have been complaints about safety on board the "Solong" in the recent past. The exact details of these inspections are not known. The shipping company Ernst Russ denied reports that the freighter was carrying several containers of toxic sodium cyanide. The containers were empty. Nevertheless, there are concerns that if the ship sinks or runs aground, diesel could escape from the tanks and pollute the coast.
Notes on the course of the collision
The incident also has an international dimension, as it involves a US-flagged ship carrying military cargo and a Portuguese-flagged container ship with a Russian captain. The arrest of the Russian citizen comes at a time of tense relations between Western countries and Russia. Officially, however, it is emphasised that there are no indications that the accident was caused deliberately.
