A 59-year-old Russian national, the captain of the cargo ship Solong, remains in UK police custody on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence after colliding with a US tanker off the coast of England. The incident sparked a massive fire, spilled jet fuel into the sea, and left one person feared dead.
The Solong collided with MV Stena Immaculate, a US-flagged tanker transporting jet fuel for the American military, on Monday. All 23 onboard the Stena Immaculate are safe and accounted for with no reported injuries. The ship’s owner, Crowley Ship Management, has stated that initial reviews show impacts from the incident have been limited.
Prior inspections in Dublin and Scotland found the Solong had significant safety issues, including unreadable steering systems and inadequate alarms. Despite these findings, the ship was not detained after either inspection. UK authorities do not suspect foul play in the crash.
The US government’s Tanker Security Program operated on a commercial vessel that can carry fuel for the military when needed. Crowley Ship Management is working closely with UK agencies to support the incident response and environmental impact mitigation operations.
The Solong remains adrift, still on fire but likely to remain afloat rather than sink, officials said.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/world/detained-captain-cargo-ship-collided-us-oil-tanker-russian-national-ship-owner-says