A MAN has been arrested following a collision between a tanker and a cargo vessel in the North Sea, Humberside Police said.
The burning Portuguese cargo ship, which crashed into a US oil tanker off the east coast of Yorkshire on Monday, is expected to sink, and a missing sailor is presumed dead.
Police have now said a 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.
Earlier on Tuesday, Transport minister Mike Kane told MPs there was “no evidence to suggest” foul play in the collision of two vessels.
He added that “something did go terribly wrong” and that “as it currently stands, no sign of pollution from vessels is observed at this time”.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is also launching a separate preliminary assessment to establish the causes of the crash involving the Portuguese vessel Solong and US tanker Stena Immaculate on Monday.
Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson said: “Humberside Police have taken primacy for the investigation of any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision between the two vessels.
“Extensive work has already been carried out and we are working closely with our partners to understand what happened, and to provide support to all of those affected.
“Following inquiries undertaken by my team, we have arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision, this follows the conclusion of search operations by HM Coastguard for the missing crew member of the Solong.
“Our thoughts are with the family of the missing crew member and I have appointed family liaison officers to make contact and provide support to the family.
“The man arrested remains in custody at this time whilst inquiries are under way and we continue speaking with all those involved to establish the full circumstances of the incident.”
The owner of the Solong cargo ship, German firm Ernst Russ, told the BBC that the man arrested by Humberside police is the master of the ship.
They said he, along with the rest of the crew, are assisting the investigation.
The maritime company managing Stena Immaculate, Crowley, said the vessel was struck by Solong while anchored off the coast of Hull, causing “multiple explosions” on board and an unknown quantity of Jet A-1 fuel to be released.
Crowley said Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks when it was struck, and at least one tank “was ruptured”.
The tanker was operating as part of the US government’s Tanker Security Programme, a group of commercial vessels that can be contracted to carry fuel for the military when needed.
Kane told MPs the “working assumption” is that one crew member from the container ship has died.
A search for a missing crew member from the cargo ship was called off on Monday night.
HM Coastguard said efforts to find the person from the Solong container ship had ended after “an extensive search”.
