Leaking fuel from North Sea collision ‘could hit north Norfolk coast'
Leaking fuel from the collision between a cargo ship and oil tanker in the North Sea could hit the north Norfolk coast, an expert has warned.
Fires on both vessels continued to burn overnight after the MV Solong struck the US-chartered Stena Immaculate off the coast of Humberside shortly before 10am on Monday.
Foul play has not been ruled out in early investigations, and there are concerns about the ecological impact a fuel spill this size could have.
The Stena Immaculate was on a short-term charter to the US Navy's Military Sealift Command and was carrying around 35 million litres of jet fuel, while the Solong, a Portuguese-flagged vessel, was carrying 15 containers of toxic sodium cyanide.
Dr Paul Johnston, a senior scientist at the Greenpeace laboratories at the University of Exeter, said he was 'very concerned' about the environmental impact of the crash.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'The wind is blowing from the north and that will tend to drive any fuel that's released towards the north Norfolk coast ultimately.
'There are bird colonies in the area.
'There will be seals hauled out in the area, dolphins and porpoises passing through the area, and all these animals, together with the fish and other marine invertebrates, are all very vulnerable to toxic events from both oil and from chemicals.'
The North Norfolk coast is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and home to nature reserves and award-winning beaches.
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