Captain of Solong Arrested After North Sea Collision
The captain of the containership Solong has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter following a collision with the tanker Stena Immaculate in the UK North Sea.
The incident occurred on Monday, resulting in both vessels catching fire after the tanker’s hull was ruptured, releasing jet fuel. One Solong crew member remains missing and is presumed dead, while the remaining 36 crew members were safely brought ashore.
UK authorities detained the 59-year-old captain, reportedly a Russian national, after calling off the search for the missing seafarer on Monday evening.
The ship’s owner, Germany’s Ernst Russ, confirmed the arrest, stating: “The master of the container ship Solong has been detained by Humberside police.”
“The master and our entire team are actively assisting with the investigations,” the company added.
Humberside Police’s Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson said the force had “taken primacy for the investigation of any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision between the two vessels.”
Ongoing Response and Environmental Impact
Initial fears that the Solong might sink have eased. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated on Tuesday that “early indications suggest that both vessels are now expected to stay afloat.”
The UK Coastguard has attached a tow line to the Solong, moving it to a safer offshore location, while a salvage plan is being developed for both ships.
At the time of the collision, the Stena Immaculate was anchored near Hull carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel for the US Air Force. At least one of its tanks is leaking into the North Sea.
Specialist pollution-control vessels arrived at the site on Tuesday to assess the extent of the spill and contain any environmental damage. An initial review suggests the impact has been limited, largely due to fire exposure and the evaporation of Jet A1 fuel.
The tanker’s manager, Crowley, provided an update: “It remains unclear at this time what volume of fuel may have been released as a result of the incident, but initial review shows impacts have been limited due to exposure to the fire and evaporation of the Jet A1 fuel.”
Investigation Underway
While the cause of the collision remains undetermined, a UK government spokesperson stated that there were “no suggestions of foul play at this time.”
However, Transport Minister Mike Kane acknowledged that something had clearly gone “terribly wrong.”
Investigators plan to interview the 36 surviving crew members from both vessels to establish the cause of the accident. While human error is suspected to be a key factor, experts note that technical malfunctions or oversights cannot be ruled out.