A collision between a cargo ship and an oil tanker in the North Sea has caused fuel to leak and could have a devastating impact on marine life, according to an expert. Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the accident, which occurred off the coast of Yorkshire on Monday morning. Fires continued to burn on both vessels 24 hours after the collision. A search for a missing crew member was called off during the night.
Questions are being raised about why the cargo ship, the Solong, did not slow down or alter its course before hitting the Stena Immaculate, which was carrying cargo for the US military. A White House official reportedly refused to rule out foul play.
Environmental experts warn that the jet fuel leaking from the Stena Immaculate is toxic to humans and wildlife. Dr Simon Boxall, a professor of oceanography at the University of Southampton, noted that Jet A-1 fuel has a higher toxicity than crude oil and would have a devastating impact on ocean life.
Melanie Onn, the MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, stated that it has been a shocking 24 hours since the incident and people are concerned about the potential harm to the ecosystem. The government has not confirmed whether the Solong was carrying the highly toxic chemical sodium cyanide at the time of the collision.
Dr Seyedvahid Vakili, a maritime expert at the University of Southampton, said that human factors often play a significant role in such collisions, especially in cases where high workloads and fatigue are involved. The cause of the collision is yet to be determined.
A US sailor on board the Stena Immaculate told CBS News that the Solong appeared out of nowhere, leaving the crew with only seconds to react. Flames were seen licking at the sailors as they evacuated the burning vessel. The evacuation operation was described as “textbook” and the entire incident lasted about 30 minutes.
The crew member said that the Stena Immaculate had anchored at the location and relayed its coordinates, which means other vessels should have been aware of its presence. Monitoring efforts are ongoing to assess the impact on water pollution.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/11/north-sea-collision-may-have-devastating-impact-on-marine-life-says-expert
