OIL TANKER AND CARGO VESSEL COLLIDE OFF ENGLAND COAST
An alarm was raised at 09:48 yesterday morning after two ships crashed off the East Yorkshire coastline.
The two ships involved were an oil tanker named MV Stena Immaculate and a cargo ship called Solong.
The accident has caused 37 mariners from both crews to be rescued with 36 of them having been reported as “safe and accounted for” by local MP Graham Stuart.
One of the mariners has been taken to hospital.
The MV Stena Immaculate had jet fuel on board. Although it’s still too early to determine the environmental impact of the crash, witnesses have said that the jet fuel is spilling into the North Sea.
A spokesperson for Greenpeace UK said “sea and weather conditions will be important in determining how any spill behaves”.
“In the case of an oil spill or any loss of hazardous cargo from the container ship involved, the speed of the response will also be crucial in limiting any impact.”
Videos shared with news outlets show thick smoke billowing out from the tanker. Reports have also suggested that a “massive fireball” was seen.
According to tracking data analysed by BBC Verify, the United States-flagged MV Stena Immaculate was hit by the oil tanker while at anchor. The Solong is Portuguese-flagged.
Image credit: News Arena
