One sailor is still missing and an oil tanker and cargo ship are on fire overnight after a collision in the North Sea.
Thirty-six casualties have been brought ashore but one member of the Portugal-registered MV Solong crew was still missing as night fell off the coast of Grimsby, according to the ship’s Hamburg-based owner, Ernst Russ.
He confirmed that the search is still underway, before adding: “Thirteen of the 14 Solong crew members have been brought safely ashore. Efforts to locate the missing crew member are ongoing.”
Jet fuel destined for the US Airforce on board US-flagged MV Stena Immaculate reportedly leaked into the water after it was struck by the smaller vessel.
In an update late on Monday, Crowley, who manage the oil tanker, said at least one cargo tank carrying jet fuel was ruptured in the collision.
A spokesman said: “At this stage, it is unclear what volume of fuel may have been released as a result of the incident. At the time it was struck, the 183-meter (596-foot) Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks.”
The Solong was carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide, a highly toxic compound, according to a report from the maritime data provider Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
Dramatic footage has shown fire and smoke billowing from the water, after the alarm was raised at just after 9.45am off the coast of the Humber Estuary, near Hull.
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Downing Street said details of the cause of the collision were “still becoming clear”.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said it was an “extremely concerning situation”.
They said: “We’re obviously monitoring the situation, we’ll continue to coordinate the response and we’re grateful to emergency personnel for their continued efforts.”
A Coastguard rescue operation has been launched as helicopters, lifeboats and firefighters rushed to the scene where both vessels appear to be ablaze.
The RNLI sent out four lifeboats to the scene at 10.20am and said there had been reports that “a number of people had abandoned the vessels and there were fires on both ships”.
It added that by 11.40am, one lifeboat was stood down whilst the other three continued to “support search and rescue efforts”.
According to ship tracking site Marinetraffic, the Stena Immaculate had anchored outside Hull after it had travelled from the port of Agioi Theodoroi in Greece.
The cargo ship Solong had been sailing from the port of Grangemouth in Scotland to Rotterdam in the Netherlands when it appeared to collide with the tanker at around 9.48am.
Greenpeace UK said it was “too early” to know the extent of any environmental damage that some groups are estimating could cost as much as £15m to clean up.
Martin Slater, director of operations at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, said jet fuel leaking into the Humber could be “devastating for the wildlife of the estuary”.
He said: “East Yorkshire’s coast is home to protected and significant colonies of seabirds including puffins, razorbills, gannets and kittiwakes.
“Many birds are gathering offshore on the sea ahead of the nesting season. There are significant numbers of Atlantic grey seals in the area, many rearing this year’s young, as well as porpoises and other cetaceans around Spurn.
“If pollution spillage enters the Humber, this could potentially be devastating for the wildlife of the estuary, including important fish stocks and tens of thousands of overwintering and migrating birds who use the mud flats.”
The Met Office had warned of fog in the Humber area ahead of the collision, with wind gusts of 25mph predicted on Monday morning.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said: “I am hugely grateful to HM Coastguard, the RNLI and emergency services who have responded to this incident.
“They were on the scene swiftly, have helped rescue those in immediate danger and I know they will continue to work tirelessly over the coming days.
“My thoughts are with all those involved, especially the family of the missing crew member.
“The Maritime Accident Investigation Branch has begun a preliminary assessment, and I am working closely with the MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) as they conduct an assessment of any counter-pollution response which may be required over the coming days.”
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