British police have arrested the captain of a cargo ship involved in a collision with a US tanker in the North Sea, suspecting him of manslaughter by gross negligence.

The collision occurred on Monday between the Portuguese-flagged ship Solong and the US tanker Stena Immaculate off the coast of East Yorkshire. The tanker was leased by the US military and was carrying jet fuel.

Following the crash, a major fire broke out, and one crew member went missing and is presumed to be deceased.

Criminal investigations have been initiated by Humberside Police and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to determine the cause of the accident. The shipping company Ernst Russ confirmed the captain’s detention and stated they are actively aiding the investigation.

Initial assessments suggested the Solong might not remain afloat, but authorities have confirmed that neither ship will sink. The Stena Immaculate is secure with tugboats, and the fire has diminished.

The environmental impact is still under assessment, but the UK coastguard has taken precautions, including a one-kilometer exclusion zone around the vessels and readiness to use equipment to prevent environmental damage in case of fuel spills.

(Edited by: Louis Oelofse)

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/north-sea-collision-captain-arrested-for-manslaughter/a-71895377?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf