North Sea collision timeline: How devastating oil tanker crash unfolded

Independent

11-03-2025

Anchored 13 miles from the coast, the US-flagged Stenna Immaculate was set for a routine stop at the Humber Estuary port in East Yorkshire.
But a 'massive' ship 'came out of the blue' on Monday morning and smashed into the 183-metre oil tanker, causing an instant fireball which was still burning 24 hours later.
The Portuguese-flagged cargo ship Solong collided with the tanker laden with 35 million litres of US military jet fuel.
A huge 12-hour rescue operation involving lifeboats and helicopters was launched with 36 people brought to shore. One sailor is missing, presumed dead, and another was rushed to hospital, HM coastguard said.
An American sailor onboard the Stenna Immaculate told CBS News he only had seconds to react after hearing shouts to brace before the devastating impact.
The 140-metre Solong did not immediately stop and drove into his ship for what seemed like 10 minutes as flames immediately erupted around him, he added.
The decision was made to abandon ship and once all the crew members had been accounted for. They left the vessel on a lifeboat, with the captain being the last person to disembark, he said.
The oil tanker's management firm, Crowley, has since revealed it sustained a ruptured cargo tank after it was struck, causing "multiple explosions" and jet fuel to be released into the water.
Oil spill researcher Dr Alex Lukyanov, of the University of Reading, said: 'This particular incident is troubling because it appears to involve persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water.'
Downing Street said the collision and subsequent spill was 'extremely concerning', while the coastguard said it was assessing the 'likely counter-pollution response required'.
The government said on Tuesday that early investigations did not indicate that the incident was caused by foul play.
Dr Abdul Khalique, head of the maritime centre at Liverpool John Moores University, said a computer reconstruction of the collision suggested Solong's watch-keepers may be to blame.
He said: 'Lookout by sight may have been hampered by the poor prevailing visibility at the time of accident.
'[But] had the watch-keepers been maintaining a proper lookout by radar, they would have spotted this imminent collision threat and taken an action to avoid collision.'
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: 'We are working closely with HM Coastguard to help support the response to the incident in the North Sea. We are grateful to all emergency personnel for their continued efforts.'
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander added: 'I am hugely grateful to HM Coastguard, the RNLI and emergency services who have responded to this incident.
'They were on the scene swiftly, have helped rescue those in immediate danger and I know they will continue to work tirelessly over the coming days. My thoughts are with all those involved, especially the family of the missing crew member.
'The Maritime Accident Investigation Branch has begun a preliminary assessment, and I am working closely with the MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) as they conduct an assessment of any counter-pollution response which may be required over the coming days.'