North Sea Collision Raises Environmental Concerns Over Cargo

More than 30 people have been rescued following a collision between the oil tanker Stena Immaculate and the cargo vessel Solong in the North Sea, off the coast of East Yorkshire.

The emergency response has been ongoing since around 10:00 GMT on Monday, with concerns growing over fuel leakage into the sea. Authorities are now assessing the potential environmental impact of the incident.

What Were the Vessels Carrying?

The Stena Immaculate was transporting jet fuel, which a U.S. official confirmed to CBS News was being shipped on behalf of the American military. The U.S. maintains several military facilities in the UK.

Crowley, the company managing the tanker, acknowledged that some fuel had leaked into the sea. However, HM Coastguard stated that the extent of any pollution is still being evaluated.

Environmental Risks of Jet Fuel

Jet fuel evaporates slowly due to its high boiling point and is considered relatively toxic. Marine life that comes into contact with it may not survive. However, bacteria in the water can help break it down, and images from the scene suggest some fuel has already ignited and burned off.

Dangerous Cargo Aboard the Solong

According to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, the Solong was carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide among its cargo.

Dr. Mark Hartl, associate professor of marine biology at Heriot-Watt University, explained that sodium cyanide dissolves easily in water and can be highly toxic as it disrupts respiration in marine animals. However, it remains unclear whether any of the chemical has leaked into the sea.

Potential Risks to Rescue Teams

Professor Alastair Hay, an environmental toxicologist at Leeds University, warned that if sodium cyanide were to mix with water, it could produce hydrogen cyanide gas, which poses a serious risk to rescuers and emergency personnel.

Impact on Marine Life

Dr. Hartl suggested that marine animals may have already fled the affected area, as they typically have a strong avoidance response to contaminants.

Meanwhile, marine ecology expert Dr. Tom Webb warned that chemical pollution from such incidents could directly harm seabirds and disrupt the marine food web in the long term.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation as cleanup efforts proceed.