A cargo ship collided with a tanker carrying jet fuel in the North Sea on Monday, igniting a massive fire off the coast of England and leaving 32 people injured, according to the tanker’s operator and authorities. The incident prompted a large-scale rescue operation coordinated by the UK Coastguard, with images showing thick black smoke and towering flames approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the shore.
The Stena Immaculate, a tanker anchored off the North Sea coast near Hull, was struck by the container ship Solong, as confirmed by Crowley, the US-based operator of the Stena Immaculate. The collision caused a rupture in the tanker’s cargo tank, which contained A1 jet fuel, leading to a fire and the reported release of fuel into the sea.
Martyn Boyers, the Grimsby port director, told AFP that 32 injured individuals had been brought ashore for treatment via three vessels. He added that ambulances were lined up on the quay in Grimsby, a northeastern English fishing port, to assist the injured. Lena Alvling, a spokesperson for Swedish shipowner Stena Bulk, confirmed that all crew members aboard the Stena Immaculate were alive.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) reported that fires had broken out on both ships, and lifeboat services were actively responding to the emergency. A UK Coastguard spokesperson stated that they were assessing the potential need for a counter-pollution response. Meanwhile, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), a government body responsible for probing marine accidents, dispatched a team to Grimsby to investigate the incident.
A spokesperson for the MAIB said, “Our team of inspectors and support staff are gathering evidence and undertaking a preliminary assessment of the accident to determine our next steps.” Environmental group Greenpeace noted that it was too early to gauge the extent of any environmental damage. A Greenpeace spokesperson emphasized, “In the case of an oil spill or any loss of hazardous cargo from the container ship involved, the speed of the response will also be crucial in limiting any impact.”
The Associated British Ports (ABP), which operates the Ports of Hull and Immingham, announced that all vessel movements in the Humber estuary, which flows into the North Sea, had been suspended. The ABP confirmed it was assisting the Coastguard in managing the situation. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) told AFP that the immediate focus was on firefighting and search-and-rescue efforts.
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed concern over the collision and extended her gratitude to the emergency services responding to the incident. The alarm was raised at 0948 GMT after the crash near Hull, a port city in East Yorkshire. The rescue operation involved a Coastguard helicopter, a plane, lifeboats from four towns, and other nearby vessels, according to the Coastguard.
The incident highlights the potential dangers of maritime operations and the importance of swift emergency responses to mitigate environmental and human impacts. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as investigations into the cause of the collision and its aftermath unfold.
