Ship collision: High flames, many injured - oil tanker fire off the British coast
A serious accident at sea occurred off the coast of the British county of Yorkshire on Monday morning. An oil tanker and a cargo ship collided under as yet unexplained circumstances. According to reports from the BBC and other media, the tanker caught fire. The British coastguard immediately launched a large-scale rescue operation.
The incident not only alerted sea rescuers, but also environmentalists and authorities. The collision occurred in a busy sea area that is considered an important shipping route between the harbours on the British north-east coast and Dutch and German ports.
More than 30 injured
According to the British authorities, 32 people were injured in the accident. The coastguard was informed of the incident at around 10 a.m. local time (11 a.m. CET) and immediately activated a rescue helicopter, an aeroplane, lifeboats and ships to fight the fire.
One person was taken to hospital. A total of 36 crew members from both ships were brought to safety. More than 30 people were brought ashore by other ships. As reported by Tagesschau, the search for a missing person was suspended last night.
The ships involved: an oil tanker and a cargo ship
The "Stena Immaculate" sails under the US flag. The cargo ship involved is the "Solong", which sails under the Portuguese flag and is listed with the German company Ernst Russ.
The shipping company Stena Bulk made the first emergency call shortly before 10 am. According to the US logistics company Crowley, which manages the tanker, aircraft fuel had leaked as a result of the collision. The tank containing the fuel was damaged, causing a fire. According to reports, there were "several explosions on board". The manager of the port of Grimsby was informed of a "fireball".
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Reactions to the ship collision
British Transport Minister Heidi Alexander expressed her concern about the incident and is in close contact with the relevant authorities and the coastguard. The chairman of the city council of the nearby city of Hull spoke to the BBC of a "devastating situation" and emphasised the need to quickly assess and combat the potential environmental consequences.
The environmental protection organisation Greenpeace is monitoring the situation closely. A spokesperson for the organisation expressed concern in view of the high speed and the video footage available from the scene of the accident. "In the event of an oil spill or loss of dangerous goods from the container ship involved, the speed of the response will also be crucial in limiting the impact," said a Greenpeace spokesperson.
Consequences for the environment
The impact of a potential oil spill will depend on a number of factors, including the type and quantity of oil loaded, the fuel in both vessels and the amount released into the water. The Coast Guard is currently assessing what actions may be required to address environmental threats.
As the managing director of the shipping company Stena Bulk, Erik Hanell, reported to various media, it is too early to speculate on the cause of the accident. The investigation into the exact cause of the accident is expected to take some time.
