A 59-year-old Russian captain is in custody after his cargo ship crashed into a US-flagged tanker off the English coast, causing both vessels to catch fire and prompting emergency rescue efforts. The Solong collided with the Stena Immaculate while it was anchored in the North Sea, resulting in significant damage and environmental concerns.
The British coastguard responded quickly to the incident, and 13 crew members from the Solong were rescued along with the entire crew of the Stena Immaculate, which was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel. However, one crew member is presumed dead after a search and rescue operation was called off.
Maritime experts are baffled by the accident, given the sophisticated technology used in modern shipping. The incident has raised concerns about safety and environmental damage, particularly with regards to the large amounts of jet fuel on board the Stena Immaculate.
The owner of the Solong, Ernst Russ, confirmed that the arrested captain is a Russian national and expressed shock at the accident. Environmental groups have warned of potential damage from jet fuel spills into the sea, which can harm wildlife and fish populations.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/12/uk/solong-captain-russian-stena-north-sea-crash-intl-gbr/index.html