Latest news with #AlexLukyanov
The Independent
12-03-2025
- The Independent
North Sea crash vessel failed safety checks
A container ship which crashed in the North Sea failed steering-related safety checks. Port state control (PSC) inspection documents from July last year show Irish officials deemed Solong's 'emergency steering position communications/compass reading' was 'not readable'. This was among 10 deficiencies highlighted during the inspection of the Portuguese vessel in Dublin. Other issues include alarms being 'inadequate', survival craft 'not properly maintained', and fire doors 'not as required'. Solong crashed into the tanker Stena Immaculate off the east coast of Yorkshire on Monday morning. The former is drifting and on fire, but is no longer expected to sink. Shipping firm Ernst Russ, which owns Solong, confirmed the vessel's captain had been arrested by Humberside Police on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after a crew member was presumed dead when a search-and-rescue operation was ended on Monday evening. In a statement on Wednesday morning, the force said 'a 59-year-old man remains in our custody' and detectives are 'continuing to conduct extensive lines of inquiry'. Another PSC inspection by Scottish authorities in Grangemouth in October 2024 found two deficiencies with Solong. One of these was related to lifebuoys – designed to be thrown into the water to prevent drowning – being 'not properly marked'. Solong was not detained after the inspections in Dublin or Grangemouth. PSC inspections are carried out on ships in ports around the world. They are aimed at verifying the condition of a vessel and that its equipment meets international regulations. Crowley, the maritime company managing the Stena Immaculate, said the jet fuel spill from the vessel has had a 'limited' impact. It remains unclear how much Jet A1 fuel was released when the ship was hit by Solong, but an initial review shows it had evaporated due to exposure to fires on both vessels. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said Solong is now expected to stay afloat, while HM Coastguard said it has attached a tow line to the vessel and it is offshore 'in a safer position'. A salvage plan for both ships is currently being developed as the clean-up efforts enter a third day. Crowley said Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks, at least one of which 'was ruptured' when it was struck. In an update on Tuesday evening, the company said: 'It remains unclear at this time what volume of fuel may have been released as a result of the incident, but initial review shows impacts have been limited due to exposure to the fire and evaporation of the Jet A1 fuel.' Dr Alex Lukyanov, from the University of Reading, a researcher on advanced mathematical models of oil spills, previously said the incident was 'troubling' because it appeared to involve persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water, while he also suggested the 'environmental toll could be severe'. The tanker was operating as part of the US government's tanker security programme, a group of commercial vessels that can be contracted to carry fuel for the military when needed. It had been anchored while waiting for a berth to become available at the Port of Killingholme, on the River Humber, Crowley said. HM Coastguard said on Tuesday evening that some flames were still visible on Solong's main deck and firefighting efforts were focusing on this area. It said the Stena Immaculate remains at anchor with safety tug boats and has a 'greatly reduced' fire with no visible flames. Assistant chief coastguard John Craig said: 'A comprehensive counter-pollution response is in place and HM Coastguard continues to make preparations for any pollution that may occur as a result of the damage to the vessels. 'The MCA's concern in relation to tanks on the Solong has reduced with tugs now able to work in close vicinity. 'The threat from the previously identified dangerous goods on board has reduced significantly. Air quality sampling onshore has shown no toxins and modelling from the Met Office indicates no threat to the public.' Ms Alexander said she is 'reassured' to hear that sodium cyanide containers on board the Solong were empty, and is 'also pleased to have been informed that early indications suggest that both vessels are now expected to stay afloat'. Four empty containers on board that 'previously contained the hazardous chemical' will 'continue to be monitored', Ernst Russ said. Transport minister Mike Kane told MPs on Tuesday that something went 'terribly wrong' for the crash to happen and there was 'no evidence' of foul play. Mr Kane added that the Government will 'do everything to recover the body of the mariner'.
The Independent
12-03-2025
- Science
- The Independent
North Sea collision latest: Captain revealed as Russian national after cargo ship's safety record laid bare
Fuel spill from North Sea collision 'having limited impact', says boat manager A jet fuel spill from the collision between a tanker and a cargo ship in the North Sea has had a 'limited' impact, the ship's management firm said. Crowley, the maritime company managing the Stena Immaculate, said it remains unclear how much Jet A1 fuel was released when it was hit by the Solong, but an initial review shows it had evaporated due to exposure to fires on both vessels. Crowley said Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks, at least one of which 'was ruptured' when it was struck. In an update on Tuesday evening, the firm said: 'It remains unclear at this time what volume of fuel may have been released as a result of the incident, but initial review shows impacts have been limited due to exposure to the fire and evaporation of the Jet A1 fuel.' Dr Alex Lukyanov, researcher on advanced mathematical models of oil spills from the University of Reading, previously said the incident was 'troubling' because it appeared to involve persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water, while he also suggested the 'environmental toll could be severe'.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
North Sea crash vessel failed safety checks
A container ship which crashed in the North Sea failed steering-related safety checks. Port state control (PSC) inspection documents from July last year show Irish officials deemed Solong's 'emergency steering position communications/compass reading' was 'not readable'. This was among 10 deficiencies highlighted during the inspection of the Portuguese vessel in Dublin. Other issues include alarms being 'inadequate', survival craft 'not properly maintained', and fire doors 'not as required'. Solong crashed into the tanker Stena Immaculate off the east coast of Yorkshire on Monday morning. The former is drifting and on fire, but is no longer expected to sink. Shipping firm Ernst Russ, which owns Solong, confirmed the vessel's captain had been arrested by Humberside Police on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after a crew member was presumed dead when a search-and-rescue operation was ended on Monday evening. In a statement on Wednesday morning, the force said 'a 59-year-old man remains in our custody' and detectives are 'continuing to conduct extensive lines of inquiry'. Another PSC inspection by Scottish authorities in Grangemouth in October 2024 found two deficiencies with Solong. One of these was related to lifebuoys – designed to be thrown into the water to prevent drowning – being 'not properly marked'. Solong was not detained after the inspections in Dublin or Grangemouth. PSC inspections are carried out on ships in ports around the world. They are aimed at verifying the condition of a vessel and that its equipment meets international regulations. Crowley, the maritime company managing the Stena Immaculate, said the jet fuel spill from the vessel has had a 'limited' impact. It remains unclear how much Jet A1 fuel was released when the ship was hit by Solong, but an initial review shows it had evaporated due to exposure to fires on both vessels. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said Solong is now expected to stay afloat, while HM Coastguard said it has attached a tow line to the vessel and it is offshore 'in a safer position'. A salvage plan for both ships is currently being developed as the clean-up efforts enter a third day. Crowley said Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks, at least one of which 'was ruptured' when it was struck. In an update on Tuesday evening, the company said: 'It remains unclear at this time what volume of fuel may have been released as a result of the incident, but initial review shows impacts have been limited due to exposure to the fire and evaporation of the Jet A1 fuel.' Dr Alex Lukyanov, from the University of Reading, a researcher on advanced mathematical models of oil spills, previously said the incident was 'troubling' because it appeared to involve persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water, while he also suggested the 'environmental toll could be severe'. The tanker was operating as part of the US government's tanker security programme, a group of commercial vessels that can be contracted to carry fuel for the military when needed. It had been anchored while waiting for a berth to become available at the Port of Killingholme, on the River Humber, Crowley said. HM Coastguard said on Tuesday evening that some flames were still visible on Solong's main deck and firefighting efforts were focusing on this area. It said the Stena Immaculate remains at anchor with safety tug boats and has a 'greatly reduced' fire with no visible flames. Assistant chief coastguard John Craig said: 'A comprehensive counter-pollution response is in place and HM Coastguard continues to make preparations for any pollution that may occur as a result of the damage to the vessels. 'The MCA's concern in relation to tanks on the Solong has reduced with tugs now able to work in close vicinity. 'The threat from the previously identified dangerous goods on board has reduced significantly. Air quality sampling onshore has shown no toxins and modelling from the Met Office indicates no threat to the public.' Ms Alexander said she is 'reassured' to hear that sodium cyanide containers on board the Solong were empty, and is 'also pleased to have been informed that early indications suggest that both vessels are now expected to stay afloat'. Four empty containers on board that 'previously contained the hazardous chemical' will 'continue to be monitored', Ernst Russ said. Transport minister Mike Kane told MPs on Tuesday that something went 'terribly wrong' for the crash to happen and there was 'no evidence' of foul play. Mr Kane added that the Government will 'do everything to recover the body of the mariner'.
The Independent
11-03-2025
- General
- The Independent
North Sea collision timeline: How devastating oil tanker crash unfolded
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.'
NBC News
11-03-2025
- General
- NBC News
U.K. braces for environmental impact as ships burn in North Sea after collision
LONDON — British officials were bracing for environmental damage and seeking answers Tuesday after a cargo ship carrying a toxic chemical hit a tanker transporting jet fuel for the U.S. military off eastern England, setting both vessels ablaze. Jet fuel from a ruptured tank poured into the North Sea after the Portugal-registered container ship Solong broadsided the U.S-flagged tanker MV Stena Immaculate on Monday. The collision sparked explosions and fires that were still burning 24 hours later. British government minister Matthew Pennycook said it was a 'fast-moving and dynamic situation.' He said air quality readings were normal and the coast guards 'are well-equipped to contain and disperse any oil spills,' with equipment including booms deployed from vessels to stop oil spreading, and aircraft that can spray dispersants on a spill. The collision triggered a major rescue operation by lifeboats, coast guard aircraft and commercial vessels in the foggy North Sea. All but one of the 37 crew members from the two vessels were brought ashore in the port of Grimsby, about 150 miles north of London, with one hospitalized. One crew member was missing, and the coast guards suspended the search late Monday. U.K. Marine accident investigators have begun gathering evidence of what caused the Solong, bound from Grangemouth in Scotland to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, to hit the stationary tanker, which was anchored some 10 miles off the English coast. The investigation will be led by the U.S. and Portugal, the countries where the vessels are flagged. The Stena Immaculate was operating as part of the U.S. government's Tanker Security Program, a group of commercial vessels that can be contracted to carry fuel for the military when needed. Its operator, U.S.-based maritime management firm Crowley, said it was carrying 220,000 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel, some of which was released into the sea. The Solong's cargo included sodium cyanide, which can produce harmful gas when combined with water, according to industry publication Lloyd's List Intelligence. It was unclear if there had been a leak. Greenpeace U.K. said it was too early to assess the extent of any environmental damage from the collision, which took place near busy fishing grounds and major seabird colonies. Alex Lukyanov, who models oil spills at the University of Reading, said the environmental impact would depend on multiple factors, including 'the size of the spill, weather conditions, sea currents, water waves, wind patterns and the type of oil involved.' 'This particular incident is troubling because it appears to involve persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water,' he said. 'The environmental toll could be severe.'
