A Russian national, aged 59, has been identified as the captain of the cargo ship Solong, which collided with a U.S. tanker, MV Stena Immaculate, off the coast of England. The incident led to a significant fire, spillage of jet fuel into the sea, and the disappearance of one crew member, who is now feared dead.

The captain remained in the custody of United Kingdom (UK) police on Wednesday, detained on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence, according to Ernst Russ, the owner of the Portugal-flagged Solong cargo ship. The ship’s crew consists of Russian and Filipino nationals, with 14 members in total.

The Solong collided with the MV Stena Immaculate, a U.S.-flagged tanker transporting jet fuel for the American military, on Monday when the tanker was anchored near Hull. All 23 individuals onboard the MV Stena Immaculate are reported to be safe and without injuries.

In the lead-up to the collision, the Solong had undergone inspection in Dublin, Ireland, in July, where it was found to have ten deficiencies. Subsequently, another inspection in Scotland in October revealed two additional deficiencies, though the ship was not detained after either inspection.

UK authorities do not suspect foul play in the crash, and it has been reported that Crowley Ship Management, the owner of the MV Stena Immaculate, is working closely with UK agencies to manage the response to the incident, including salvage efforts and environmental impact mitigation.

Initial assessments suggest the environmental impact has been limited due to exposure to the fire and evaporation of the Jet A1 fuel. Nevertheless, UK agencies are closely monitoring air quality and potential public health impacts, which are currently at low levels.

The Solong is still adrift and on fire, but officials believe it is more likely to stay afloat rather than sink. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/world/detained-captain-cargo-ship-collided-us-oil-tanker-russian-national-ship-owner-says