Shocking video captures cargo ship colliding with US oil tanker near UK coast
A recent video captures the harrowing moment a cargo ship collided with a US oil tanker off the UK coast. The incident occurred on Monday morning when the Solong, a Portuguese-flagged cargo ship, crashed into the Stena Immaculate near Hull, East Yorkshire. Following the crash, it was disclosed by the owner of the Solong, Ernst Russ, that the captain, a Russian national, was taken into custody in connection with the accident.
Both ships erupted in flames just before 10 am, leading to a rescue operation by HM Coastguard, which successfully saved 36 individuals and brought them to safety. Unfortunately, one crew member of the Solong is still unaccounted for and presumed to have lost their life in the collision. The search for the missing crew member was called off on Monday evening.
The newly released footage of the collision, captured from a nearby vessel, shows the Solong directly striking the stationary and anchored US oil tanker. The US tanker was laden with 220,000 barrels of aviation fuel destined for military use in 18 containers. Initial concerns about the cargo on the Solong, namely sodium cyanide, were dispelled by Ernst Russ, who clarified that the chemical had been transported in four containers at an earlier time.
Following the incident, the ongoing investigation took a serious turn as the captain of the Solong was declared a suspect in gross negligence manslaughter due to the missing crew member. The complexity of the situation led to varied opinions, with some suggesting foul play may have been involved. While a US official in the White House did not rule out the possibility, UK Transport Minister Mike Kane emphasized that there was no concrete evidence of foul play at this point.
The tragic event shed light on the safety measures and inspections conducted on the Solong in recent times. Port state control (PSC) inspection reports revealed multiple deficiencies related to steering, emergency communications, survival equipment maintenance, and alarm systems. The vessel had failed steering-related safety checks in July 2024 and faced criticism for various other issues during subsequent inspections in Dublin and Grangemouth.
With growing concerns about the circumstances surrounding the collision and the motivations of those involved, authorities are working diligently to uncover the truth behind this tragic incident. The implications of the crash extend beyond the immediate impact on the vessels involved, raising questions about maritime safety standards and the need for stringent regulation in the industry. The repercussions of this collision will be felt for years to come as investigators piece together the events leading up to the fateful day.