A massive blaze ignited in the North Sea following a dramatic collision where a container ship collided with a US tanker, prompting widespread concern and a flurry of unanswered questions regarding the cause.
Off the coast of East Yorkshire, the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship Solong collided with the Stena Immaculate on Monday. Crew members were forced to abandon the vessel amid fears expressed by environmentalists that the incident could lead to a catastrophic environmental crisis due to hazardous materials onboard.
Tragically, one crew member is unaccounted for and is feared to have perished, while around 30 survivors have been rescued. The Russian captain of the Solong has been taken into custody while the cause of the crash is under rigorous investigation.
However, there are still several questions that remain over the cause of the collision.
Who is responsible?
It's premature to attribute blame for the maritime disaster in the North Sea. The 59 year old Russian captain of the Solong is being held by Humberside Police on grounds of suspected gross negligence manslaughter, reports the Mirror.
Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson, the Senior Investigating Officer, stated: "Humberside Police have taken primacy for the investigation of any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision between the two vessels.
"Extensive work has already been carried out, and we are working closely with our partners to understand what happened, and to provide support to all of those affected. Following enquiries undertaken by my team, we have arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision, this follows the conclusion of search operations by HM Coastguard for the missing crew member of the Solong."
Who is the crew member who is presumed dead?
The identity of the presumed dead crew member is yet to be disclosed. A large number of crew members were rescued after the vessels collided around 10am on Monday.
The unaccounted-for crew member was from the Solong, and the search for him was called off on Monday. Whitehall sources informed the BBC that the Solong's crew at the time of the disaster included Russians and Filipinos.
Was foul play involved?
As for whether foul play was involved, investigators are currently examining the events leading up to the collision to determine if it could have been prevented. The UK government has stated that there is no evidence so far to suggest any foul play.
The White House has not dismissed the possibility that onboard systems were compromised prior to the collision. This theory proposes that the Solong could have been hacked, transforming it into a destructive force heading towards the ship.
What became of the autopilot?
The Solong is believed to have been on autopilot during the collision, and it's equipped with technology to detect obstacles. However, the reason for the autopilot's failure to function correctly remains unknown.
Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, expressed his bewilderment to The Sun: "It seems a mystery, really, because all the vessels now have very highly sophisticated technical equipment to plot courses and to look at any obstacles or anything they've got to avoid," he said. "It's difficult to suggest what went on, other than the fact it should never have happened."
How much fuel leaked into sea?
The 596-foot Stena Immaculate, which can transport fuel for the US military, was involved in the incident. Crowley, its operator, reported that the vessel had 220,000 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel across 16 tanks, with at least one tank rupturing due to the collision.
However, the exact amount of fuel that has spilled into the North Sea is still uncertain. In response to earlier reports, the owner of the Solong clarified that the ship did not carry sodium cyanide at the time of the accident.
The company confirmed that four containers, which were empty at the time, had previously contained the chemical, known to be harmful when mixed with water. A statement from the company assured: "Our team is actively engaged with all local authorities, and we will work with clean-up teams to ensure every effort is made to mitigate further impacts on the marine environment."
The potential environmental consequences of the oil spill are yet to be fully understood.
Environmentalists have raised the alarm over the potential danger an oil spill could pose to marine creatures residing near the site of a collision. The local inhabitants, including whales, dolphins, and birds like puffins, could be severely impacted.
Speaking to the Associated Press, Alex Lukyanov from the University of Reading, an expert who models oil spills, noted that various factors will influence the consequences for the marine ecosystem. He mentioned crucial aspects such as "the size of the spill, weather conditions, sea currents, water waves, wind patterns and the type of oil involved."
Lukyanov expressed concern, stating: "This particular incident is troubling because it appears to involve persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water. The environmental toll could be severe."
In terms of recovering the ships involved in the collision, several considerations come into play that can affect the salvage timeline. For one, floating debris may threaten other vessels nearby, while ensuring the fire is completely extinguished is critical before salvage operations can begin successfully.
Once the flames are out, there's the task of determining the safety of boarding the vessels, particularly due to the possibility of hazardous substances on board. The retrieval of both ships is definitive; however, it might require weeks to secure the scene fully and put out the fire.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
English (United States) ·