A Russian national has been identified as the captain of the Solong ship, which collided with a tanker carrying jet fuel earlier this week.
According to Reuters, shipping company Ernst Russ, confirmed on Wednesday that the 59-year-old captain was Russian.
On Monday, the Portuguese-flagged Solong ship crashed into the US-flagged Stena Immaculate oil tanker off the East Yorkshire coast, leaving one crew member missing as well as prompting environmental concerns about chemicals leaking into the sea.
Crowley, the company that owns the US-flagged tanker, said there were “multiple explosions onboard” following the crash, with footage showing black smoke billowing from its hull.
Search and rescue helicopters were reportedly dispatched to the scene, but a search for the missing Solong crew member was later called off. The 23 crew aboard the US vessel have all been confirmed safe.
The captain of the Solong has been taken into custody by Humberside Police on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter following the incident and is understood to be assisting investigators.
In a statement, Ernst Russ said: “The master and our entire team are actively assisting with the investigations. Out of respect for the investigation and all involved we will not comment further at this time.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson said: “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.
He added: “Following enquiries 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.”
Authorities are now working to understand how the incident unfolded in what appears to be a rare case of a collision on such a scale.
It is understood that the Stena Immaculate, which was stationary, was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks for the U.S. Department of Defense at the time.
According to CBS, an American crew member aboard the Stena Immaculate claims the other ship “came from out of the blue”, but believed that the Solong’s bridge was empty at the time of the crash.
Salvage plans and clean-up efforts are now underway amid concerns that jet fuel may have leaked into the water.
The Coastguard said it was making “preparations for any pollution that may occur”, with environmental experts adding that it was too early to tell what ecological and environmental damage had been done.
