The captain of a cargo ship involved in a collision with a US oil tanker in the North Sea on Monday has been identified.
The incident occurred at approximately 10 am on March 10 when a Portuguese-flagged container ship, MV Solong, reportedly collided with the US-flagged Stena Immaculate off the Yorkshire coast in the UK.
Today, the ship’s owner, Ernst Russ, revealed that the 59-year-old captain of the cargo vessel, now arrested in connection with the accident, is a Russian national.
A spokesperson for Ernst Russ informed CNN that the captain of the Solong is the arrested individual and confirmed him to be a Russian national.
Humberside Police announced on Tuesday, March 11, that the 59-year-old was detained on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter as investigations into the crash’s cause begin.
Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson stated: “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.”
“The man arrested remains in custody at this time whilst enquiries are under way, and we continue speaking with all those involved to establish the full circumstances of the incident,” he added.
The US tanker was transporting about 220,000 barrels of jet fuel and was anchored at the time of the incident.
The collision, occurring around 10 miles from the coast in the North Sea, resulted in a ‘massive fire ball’ and prompted a major search and rescue operation, with 32 casualties safely brought to shore.
One crew member is still missing, presumed dead, according to the UK’s maritime minister Mike Kane, who addressed the issue in the House of Commons.
The RNLI noted that several individuals abandoned the burning ships for the water, while emergency call audio revealed the crew’s quick decision to leave the vessels.
In a distress call, a caller stated: “Solong collided with tanker Stena Immaculate. Both vessels are abandoning,” as reported by The Sun.
“Vessels who have firefighting equipment or who can assist with search and rescue, contact Humber Coastguard on [radio] channel 16.
“Vessel Stena Immaculate is carrying Jet A1 fuel, which is on fire and in the water. Request vessels remain at a safe distance.”
According to The Telegraph, a UK government source indicated that initial investigations do not suggest foul play, but it has not been completely ruled out.
Transport Minister Mike Kane mentioned that although the collision was a major error, there is currently no evidence of foul play.
The US tanker had been anchored near the Humber Estuary after arriving from Greece, while the MV Solong was en route from Scotland to Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
The large quantity of jet fuel on the tanker has raised concerns about the environmental impact of the spill, with fears of potential irreversible ecological damage.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notes that cleanups can never completely remove oil from the water, and wildlife experts warn that such extensive oil spills can severely harm marine ecosystems, including birds, sea life, and coastal habitats.