Ships still on fire after North Sea crash
The fires were "still going on", nearly 24 hours after the Solong cargo ship ran into the Stena Immaculate tanker, anchored about 10 miles (16 kilometres) off the northeast port of Hull.
One crew member was also still missing, Grimsby port chief executive Martyn Boyers told AFP.
The government's Marine Accident Investigation Branch has launched a probe into Monday's accident to determine the next steps and need for a counter-pollution response.
The UK Coastguard halted search operations late on Monday after rescuing 36 crew members from both ships. It was not immediately clear if the search had resumed early on Tuesday.
"One crew member of the Solong remains unaccounted for. After an extensive search for the missing crew member sadly they have not been found and the search has ended," said Matthew Atkinson, Divisional Commander for the HM Coastguard.
Images on Monday showed a huge plume of thick, black smoke and flames rising from the scene off the coast of East Yorkshire, sparking concerns of "multiple toxic hazards".
The Stena Immaculate was on a short-term US military charter with Military Sealift Command, according to Jillian Morris, the spokesperson for the command that operates civilian-crewed ships providing ocean transport for the US Defense Department.
Crowley, the US-based operators of the tanker, said the impact of the crash "ruptured" the ship's tank "containing A1-jet fuel" and triggered a fire, with fuel "reported released".
The Stena Immaculate was carrying around 220,000 barrels of jet fuel.
The Solong was carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide, according to the Lloyd's List information service, but it is not known if any of the flammable compound had leaked.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the situation "extremely concerning".
All crew members aboard the Stena Immaculate were confirmed to be alive, a spokeswoman for the tanker's Swedish owner, Stena Bulk, told AFP.
- 'Toxic hazards' -
A spokesman for the government's Marine Accident Investigation Branch said: "Our team of inspectors and support staff are gathering evidence and undertaking a preliminary assessment of the accident to determine our next steps."
Dutch maritime servicing company Boskalis told the ANP news agency it had been tasked with salvaging the Stena Immaculate and was "fully mobilising".
Four ships with firefighting capacity were on their way to the site, a Boskalis spokesperson said, adding that the tanker would need to be "cooled down" before the fire could be extinguished.
Ivor Vince, founder of ASK Consultants, an environmental risk advisory group, told AFP: "The good news is it's not persistent. It's not like a crude oil spill".
"Most of it will evaporate quite quickly and what doesn't evaporate will be degraded by microorganisms quite quickly," he added.
He warned though, that "it will kill fish and other creatures".
There were growing concerns about the consequences of any spillage into the North Sea for the local environment and protected wildlife.
Paul Johnston, a senior scientist at the Greenpeace Research Laboratories at Exeter University, said: "We are extremely concerned about the multiple toxic hazards these chemicals could pose to marine life."
The jet fuel entered the water close to a breeding ground for harbour porpoises.
Sodium cyanide is "a highly toxic chemical that could cause serious harm", he explained.
- Humber traffic suspended -
All vessel movements were "suspended" in the Humber estuary that flows into the North Sea, according to Associated British Ports (ABP), which operates in the Ports of Hull and Immingham in the region.
The German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said it was also dispatching a vessel capable of fire fighting and oil recovery.
Grimsby native Paul Lancaster, a former seaman, told AFP: "I don't understand how two ships that big could collide".
"There must have been a massive engineering problem," he said.
bur-jkb/aks/gil
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Gazan families can now reserve aid packages in advance, GHF announces
GHF launched a new aid system in Gaza, allowing families to reserve packages in advance, ensuring fair access for vulnerable groups amid ongoing distribution efforts. The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced a new system that will allow Gazan families to reserve aid packages in advance, according to a statement on Monday. The system is based on programs used by other humanitarian aid organizations in Gaza and around the world. Up until now, GHF's distribution of aid has been on a first-come, first-served basis, leading to younger, more able-bodied individuals constantly outpacing women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. '[The program] is designed to provide safe, predictable access to GHF's food parcels,' the statement said, noting GHF's other solutions to the problem, including the implementation of 'women-only days and lanes, and community-based solutions.' A pilot program using this system has begun in the Saudi Neighborhood in Gaza with 350 participants, with expansion to GHF's other sites in development. Participation in GHF's new aid distribution system Following an invitation to participate, civilians will be granted a photo ID card and given the option of creating an online profile where the size of the family can be noted. On given days, aid parcels will then be set aside for participants, eliminating the need to take part in the mass rush for distribution. First-come, first-served distribution will continue for those who choose not to participate. 'This is real progress,' Acree added. 'It both demonstrates that GHF's model is working and reflects our commitment to adapting to the needs of those we serve and delivering on President Donald Trump's call for innovation to get more humanitarian aid into the hands of the people who need it most in Gaza.' Solve the daily Crossword
CNBC
4 hours ago
- CNBC
Psychologist: It's 'necessary' for parents to make mistakes—your kids are more likely to grow up successful
It's easy to want to be the perfect parent when you have kids, but making mistakes as a parent is pretty natural. In fact, it's part of the equation for raising successful kids, developmental psychologist Aliza Pressman told "The Mel Robbins Podcast" in an episode that published on July 28. When your kids see you making mistakes, they learn that messing up doesn't mean there's something inherently wrong with them — lessening the pressure they may feel to be completely mistake-free, said Pressman. Giving your kids permission to mess up can help them become happier and more successful as adults. "If our kids didn't see [our mistakes], they would not have much hope that they get to make mistakes and grow and still be loved and be worthy," Pressman said. Your parenting mistakes will be unavoidable, she said — from forgetting to pack your kid's favorite snack one day to accidentally saying the wrong thing in front of them. "We are born as parents when our children are born," said Pressman, adding: "Of course we're messing up all of the time, because we're babies. We're baby parents ... [It's] a necessary part of this gig to keep making mistakes."What matters is how you respond to those mistakes, she said. She recommended apologizing directly to your children, a process that she called "repair." Some other psychologists offer similar advice: Be "honest and direct" when apologizing to your child, child psychologist Tovah Klein told CNBC Make It in October 2024. Kids can mistake a parent's outburst as something more serious and long-lasting than you likely intended, she noted. Try simple phrases like "I'm sorry I yelled," or, "I apologize, I shouldn't have done that," said Klein, the director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development. Parenting experts often stress the importance of modeling the kind of behavior you want your kids to learn. "Want your kids to not be addicted to their screens? Don't be on your phone all the time in front of them. Want them to be active? Let them see you exercise," Theo Wolf, an educator at Spike Lab, wrote on March 27. Your children learn from a variety of your behaviors, from traits and values — like mental resilience or self-awareness — to your day-to-day actions and the language you use when you think they're not listening, added Wolf, a coach at New York-based Spike Lab, an entrepreneurship program for teenagers. "Be mindful of the examples you set for them," he wrote. "If you want them to grow up to be responsible, purposeful, hard-working, and above all, happy, embody those traits yourself."
Forbes
5 hours ago
- Forbes
Best Glass for Lager: What to Use and Why
Two men clink their beer mugs filled with 'Pilsner Urquell' beer in the 'U Rarasku' pub in Prague, Czech Republic, on March 19, 2025. The Czech beer-making tradition is over a thousand years old, and beer is omnipresent in Czech history and culture. While many beer drinkers in the Central European country have turned to buying the popular tipple in supermarkets to save money, Czech beer professionals are seeking a UNESCO listing as a possible boost to pubs. (Photo by Michal Cizek / AFP) (Photo by MICHAL CIZEK/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Lagers are the world's most popular beers, filling glasses everywhere from backyards to beer halls. Their crisp, clean flavors and easy-drinking nature make them universal crowd-pleasers. Yet for all their ubiquity, most drinkers overlook one simple truth that means so much. The glass you pour a lager into can dramatically change how you experience it. From their Bavarian origins to the golden pilsner that spread across the globe from its birthplace in the Czech Republic, lagers have a rich history, and the vessels they're served in are a part of that story. The proper glass doesn't just look good; it influences aroma, carbonation, temperature, and flavor. In short, it's the difference between an ordinary pour and an elevated drinking experience. The first step to determining what glass to use is understanding what a lager is. It isn't just one style of beer; it's an entire family of beers that cover a broad spectrum of flavors. At one end are golden pilsners and helles, prized for their clarity and balance. Vienna lagers and Märzens lean maltier, offering notes of bread and toast that shine during Oktoberfest season. Darker variations like dunkels and schwarzbiers bring roasted, nutty, and chocolate-like tones, while bocks and doppelbocks push into rich, full-bodied territory. More recent innovations, such as India Pale Lagers that blend lager's crispness with a modern IPA punch. With such breath, it's no surprise the glasses designed for lagers are just as varied. Knowing which one to use isn't about being fussy; it's about honoring the beer. Pilsner Glass: When Josef Groll brewed the first golden pilsner in Plzeň in 1842, its brilliance and effervescence were unlike anything drinkers had seen before. A tall, slender glass became the perfect showcase, directing hop aromas towards the nose while preserving a lively head. It remains the best choice for pilsners, helles, and other pale lagers. Stein or Maßkrug: These Bavarian icons aren't just for Oktoberfest aesthetics. Their thick glass walls help insulate beer in crowded festival tents, while the handle keeps hand heat at bay. They shine with Märzens and festbiers, built for hearty, communal drinking. A Seidel Beer Mug. AFP via Getty Images Seidel Mug: Everyday tavern staples in Central Europe, mugs suit darker lagers like dunkels, bocks, and schwarzbiers. The sturdy handle and thicker walls echo the utility these beers were brewed for—robust, satisfying, and meant to be lingered over. Weizen Style Glass. Houston Chronicle via Getty Imag Weizen Glass: Traditionally for wheat ales, the tall, curving shape accentuates foam and fruity aromatics, making it a fun alternative for wheat-lager hybrids. Tulip Glass. Houston Chronicle via Getty Imag Tulip Glass: A modern twist born from the craft era, tulips work beautifully with hoppier or stronger lagers like IPLs. The bulbous body traps aroma and allows a creamy, rich head to develop. At the same time, the flared lip delivers it smoothly with each sip. English Pub Style Glass. getty Pub Beer Glass: Originating from the English pubs in the 17th century, where ales were predominant, a well-designed pub glass will work well with a lager. Unlike its cousin, the shaker glass, an unfortunate bar staple across the globe, a good pub glass usually holds 20 ounces of beer and has a flair in the upper body that allows aromas and flavors to blossom. Lagers have always been defined by their precision. When Anton Dreher brewed one of the first pale lagers in Vienna in the 1840s, its clean, balanced profile stood apart from the heavier ales of the time. That sense of clarity remains at the heart of the style today, and the glass you drink it from plays a crucial role in preserving those qualities. A well-chosen glass doesn't just hold the beer, it frames it, highlighting its bright appearance, lively carbonation, and subtle interplay of malt and hops. The wrong glass can mute those traits, while the right one amplifies them. Tall, narrow shapes emphasize sparkle and clarity, directing delicate aromas toward the nose. A proper pour creates a lasting foam cap, which locks in carbonation and aroma just as European brewers intended. In this way, the glass becomes an extension of the brewer's craft, ensuring that every sip delivers the crisp, nuanced experience that has made lager the world's most enduring style. How Size and Shape Affect Beer Temperature One of the reasons lagers conquered the world after the advent of refrigeration in the 19th century is their refreshing coolness. But keeping them in the right temperature range—generally between 38 and 45°F, depending on the style—relies as much on the glass as the keg. Tall, slender pilsner glasses, for instance, expose less surface area to the air, allowing the beer to stay crisp and cold longer. Their design suits a slower, more measured pace of drinking, keeping that clean bite intact from first sip to last. By contrast, the hefty steins and mugs that dominate beer halls offer a different advantage. Their thick walls act as insulation, slowing the warming process, while the handle keeps body heat from creeping into the beer. The tradeoff is size—when you're working through a liter of Märzen at Oktoberfest, the last few sips won't be as cold as the first unless you drink briskly. That's why in much of Europe, smaller servings remain the norm. Half-liters and even smaller mugs ensure that every pour stays at its most refreshing, honoring the lager's core promise of crispness. Avoiding Pitfalls and Elevating the Lager Experience For a beer as straightforward as lager, it's surprising how easy it is to undermine the experience with the wrong glass. Chief among them is the American led habit of defaulting to a shaker pint. Sturdy and ubiquitous, it was designed for mixing cocktails, not showcasing beer. Its wide mouth dissipates aroma quickly and does little to preserve a creamy head. Equally misguided is the frozen mug, a mid-20th-century marketing gimmick that still lingers. While it may look refreshing in commercials, it collapses foam instantly and mutes the beer's subtle malt and hop notes. Oversized glasses create another issue by leaving too much headspace, which lets carbonation fade long before the last sip. And perhaps the most common error of all is ignoring the style—pouring a delicate pilsner into a heavy mug or a rich dunkel into a skinny pilsner flute robs each beer of its intended character. Fortunately, getting it right doesn't take much. Start by matching the glass to the style: a pilsner glass for pale lagers, a mug for darker brews, a stein for festbiers. Before pouring, give the glass a quick rinse with cool water to wash away dust and improve foam stability. When you pour, tilt the glass and then straighten it midway to build a head of one to two fingers—just enough to cap the beer and release its aroma gradually. And consider portion size. Half-liters and smaller pours, long the standard in European beer halls, aren't just tradition; they keep the beer at peak refreshment from start to finish. With these minor adjustments, the humble lager transforms from an everyday beverage into something much closer to the experience its brewers intended. The Bottom Line From Bavarian caves to Bohemian beer halls, from Milwaukee taverns to Oktoberfest tents, lagers have always been tied to the vessels they're served in. The glass is not just a container—it's part of the beer. Next time you crack a crisp pilsner or settle in with a malty dunkel, give some thought to what you pour it into. After all, centuries of brewers refined these styles with a particular drinking experience in mind. Why not enjoy it the way they intended? Follow here for the most up to date information about the ever changing beer, wine, and spirits industry. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes 10 Game Day Beers For Tailgating This Football Season By Hudson Lindenberger Forbes The 8 Best Single Malt Scotch Whiskies Under $100 In 2025—According To Experts By Hudson Lindenberger Forbes These Are The Best Bourbons Of 2025 (So Far), According To Spirits Competitions By Hudson Lindenberger Forbes How To Read A Bourbon Label By Hudson Lindenberger
