Tanker and container ship ablaze after major collision off Hull

More than 32 people were injured after a collision between an oil tanker and a cargo ship in the North Sea sparked a huge blaze, raising concerns of a major ecological disaster.

The collision caused fires on both vessels. The tanker was believed to have been carrying aviation fuel. Picture: The Times

A United States-flagged tanker carrying jet fuel, reportedly to be used for military purposes, has burst into flames after being struck by a Portuguese container ship off the coast of Hull near the Humber estuary on Monday (local time) raising concerns of a major ecological disaster.

The dramatic collision, which occurred on Monday morning, is directly offshore from Flamborough Head in North Yorkshire, a major breeding area for seabirds.

Two hours after the collision 32 crew members had been picked up by rescue ships and taken onshore to Grimsby.

Erik Hanell, the chief executive of the tanker parent company, Stena Bulk, told the BBC all of the crew onboard the tanker Stena Immaculate have been rescued and accounted for.

The Stena Immaculate supplies fuel, at short notice, to the US military during armed conflicts.

It was unclear if the fuel load at the time of the collision was destined for US military purposes.

Crews on board immediately abandoned the two blazing ships when the collision occurred just after 9.30am on Monday around 15 km offshore.

Investigators were looking at circumstances of the collision, especially the movements of the Portugues ship Solong which was travelling at 16 knots in a straight line for the Stena Immaculate.

The local MP for Beverley and Holderness Graham Stuart said the crews from both ships were “safe and accounted for” with one crew member hospitalised.

“The other 36 mariners across both crews are safe and accounted for,” he said, adding that concern for local wildlife was mounting.

United States US naval history professor Sal Mercogliano who is a qualified merchant mariner, said on social media that ship-tracking websites showed the Solong had struck the port side of the Stena Immaculate and had pushed the tanker for some distance.

“She doesn’t even slow down,” he said.

The tanker, Stena Immaculate was carrying aviation fuel, the Humber Coastguard said in an emergency broadcast.

It was at anchor when struck by the container ship, Solong, heading towards Rotterdam. Analysts pondered how the collision occurred in daylight and with modern technology and tracking systems.

By lunchtime local time both ships were ablaze and emergency vessels with firefighting equipment were trying to get close enough to try and put the fires out.

Port of Grimsby East chief executive Martyn Boyers said 32 casualties had been brought to shore on three vessels.

Mr Boyers said eyewitnesses on board had described “a massive fireball”.

“It’s too far out for us to see – about 10 miles (16km) – but we have seen the vessels bringing them in,” he said.

If full, the Stena could have been carrying 58 million litres of fuel. Solong was also shown on fire with oil appearing to flood the immediate area.

The coastguard said in an emergency broadcast shortly after 9.48am on Monday: “Solong collided with tanker Stena Immaculate. Both vessels are abandoning. Vessels who have firefighting equipment or who can assist with search and rescue, contact Humber Coastguard on channel 16.

“Vessel Stena Immaculate is carrying Jet A1 fuel which is on fire and in the water. Request vessels remain at a safe distance.”

A coastguard spokesman said they were coordinating an emergency response, with a rescuer helicopter from Humberside on the scene. Lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Maplethorpe and Cleethorpes, an HM Coastguard fixed wing aircraft, and nearby vessels with firefighting capability have been also deployed.

Stena Immaculate had travelled from the Greek port of Agioi Theodoroi, and was anchored outside Hull.

The Solong had been sailing from the Scottish port of Grangemouth en route to the Netherlands. The rules of the sea give the ship at anchor the right of way, with responsibility to avoid a collision resting with the container ship.

Navy Lookout said: “Collision off the Humber at 0948 this morning appears to be very serious with both vessels subsequently ravaged by fire. Crews abandoned ship, unclear if there are casualties as yet. Also potential major pollution risk”.

MarineTraffic has broadcast a playback of the vessels’ movements before and after the incident which shows the Solong heading straight for the stationary Stena Immaculate, and appearing to hit midships of the 183m long tanker.

The Solong container ship is about 140m long.