The incident occurred on Monday when the Portuguese-flagged ship, Solong, struck the US tanker Stena Immaculate, which had been chartered by the US military, off the Yorkshire coast.
The tanker was carrying jet fuel, and its collision with Solang triggered a massive fire, causing one crew member to go missing, who is now presumed dead.
Investigations into the Crash
The 59-year-old captain of the Solang was arrested by Humberside police in northeast England.
Shipping company Ernst Russ confirmed the captain’s detention and stated that the captain and the rest of the crew are cooperating with the investigation.
Humberside police, alongside the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, have opened a criminal investigation to determine the cause of the collision.
Environmental Impact Evaluation
The UK coastguard stated that the Solang has been moved to a safer location offshore.
Transport Minister Heidi Alexander confirmed on Tuesday that neither ship is likely to sink.
The Stena Immaculate remains anchored with safety tug boats, and the fire has been largely extinguished, the coastguard reported.
The amount of jet fuel released during the collision is unknown, but maritime company Crowley said that it was likely to have evaporated due to the fires.
The authorities are prepared to utilize equipment to minimize pollution at sea if necessary, including spray dispersants and containment booms.
A one-kilometer (0.6-mile) exclusion zone has been established around the vessels.
Edited by: Louis Oelofse
