North Sea Collision: U.S. Oil Tanker and Cargo Ship in Major Collision Off UK Coast
1. Incident Overview
On the morning of March 10, 2025, a severe collision occurred between the U.S. military oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate and the cargo vessel MV Solong in the North Sea, resulting in a massive fire that lasted for several hours.
According to the UK Coastguard, the collision took place at 9:48 AM UK time in the Humber Estuary, near the coast of Grimsby. Both vessels were in motion when they suddenly collided, causing a large explosion that set the MV Stena Immaculate ablaze.
Maritime tracking site VesselFinder recorded that MV Stena Immaculate, flying the U.S. flag, had departed from Greece and was near Grimsby port at the time of the incident. Meanwhile, MV Solong, under the Portuguese flag, was en route from Grangemouth (Scotland) to Rotterdam (Netherlands).
2. Rescue Efforts
Immediately after the distress signal was received, the UK Coastguard mobilized multiple rescue units, including:
- A rescue helicopter from Humberside
- Lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Maplethorpe, and Cleethorpes
- An HM Coastguard surveillance aircraft
- Several commercial vessels with firefighting capabilities
Videos from the scene showed a massive fire engulfing both ships, with thick black smoke covering the area. Rescue forces worked tirelessly to extinguish the fire amid dense fog, which significantly reduced visibility.
3. Casualties and Crew Situation
A total of 37 crew members were on board both vessels:
- All 23 crew members of MV Stena Immaculate were safely brought ashore.
- 13 out of 14 crew members of MV Solong were rescued, while one remains missing.
- One individual was hospitalized due to injuries.
After 12 hours, the search for the missing crew member was temporarily halted, while UK authorities announced they would assess pollution risks and take necessary countermeasures.
4. Environmental Risks
The Stena Immaculate suffered a ruptured Jet-A1 fuel tank, leading to a fuel spill into the sea. Meanwhile, the MV Solong was confirmed to be carrying sodium cyanide, a hazardous chemical that can produce toxic gases when exposed to water. It remains unclear whether any leakage has occurred.
5. Cause of the Accident
The cause of the collision is still under investigation. According to Abdul Khalique, a maritime expert at Liverpool John Moores University, the MV Solong crew may have failed to comply with international radar observation regulations.
Real Logistics will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
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