Latest news with #Windcat33
Boston Globe
10-03-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Fuel tanker and cargo ship collide and catch fire in North Sea off Britain, triggering rescue
U.S.-based Crowley Ship Management, which operates the Stena Immaculate, said the tanker 'sustained a ruptured cargo tank containing Jet-A1 fuel,' when the container ship struck it, triggering a fire and 'multiple explosions onboard,' with fuel released into the sea. Advertisement It said all the mariners on the tanker were safe and accounted for. Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, said 13 casualties were brought in on a Windcat 33 high-speed vessel, followed by another 19 on a harbor pilot boat. Britain's Maritime and Coastguard Agency said several lifeboats and a coast guard rescue helicopter were dispatched to the scene in the North Sea, along with a coast guard plane. The site of the collision is off the coast of Hull, about 155 miles (250 kilometers) north of London.′ Coast guards said the alarm was raised at 9:48 a.m. (0948 GMT). Humber Coast Guard made a radio broadcast asking vessels with firefighting equipment and those who could help with search and rescue to head to the scene. The RNLI lifeboat agency said 'there were reports that a number of people had abandoned the vessels following a collision and there were fires on both ships.' It said three lifeboats were working on search and rescue at the scene alongside the coast guard. Video footage aired by the BBC and apparently filmed from a nearby vessel showed thick black smoke pouring from both ships. Boyers, the port chief, said he had been told there was 'a massive fireball.' 'It's too far out for us to see – about 10 miles – but we have seen the vessels bringing them in," he said. 'They must have sent a mayday out. Luckily there was a crew transfer vessel out there already. Since then, there has been a flotilla of ambulances to pick up anyone they can find.' Advertisement U.K. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was being kept up to date on the developing situation 'I want to thank all emergency service workers involved for their continued efforts in responding to the incident,' she said.
Sky News
10-03-2025
- General
- Sky News
Oil tanker and cargo ship on fire after colliding off coast of East Yorkshire
An oil tanker and cargo ship are both on fire after colliding in the North Sea off the coast of East Yorkshire, the RNLI said. The lifeboat service added that it had sent four crews to the scene after the crash was reported just before 9.50am. A number of people abandoned the vessels following the collision around 13 miles from the coast. All those from the oil tanker are said to be "safe and fully accounted for", however jet fuel has been released into the sea, according to the firm that manages the vessel. Thirty two casualties were brought ashore, Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, said. Mr Boyers said 13 casualties were brought in on a Windcat 33 high-speed vessel, followed by another 19 on a harbour pilot boat. He added that there were reports of a "massive fireball". "They must have sent a mayday out - luckily there was a crew transfer vessel out there already. "Since then there has been a flotilla of ambulances to pick up anyone they can find," he said. 'Multiple explosions onboard' US logistics group Crowley, which manages oil tanker Stena Immaculate, confirmed the vessel had released some jet fuel after sustaining a ruptured cargo tank. In a statement, Crowley said: "The Stena Immaculate sustained a ruptured cargo tank containing Jet-A1 fuel due to the allision (when a moving ship hits a stationary object). "A fire occurred as a result of the allision, and fuel was reported released. The Stena Immaculate crew abandoned the vessel following multiple explosions onboard. "All Crowley mariners are safe and fully accounted for." The firm said it initiated its emergency vessel response plan and is "actively working with public agencies to contain the fire and secure the vessel". Crowley added: "Our first priority is the safety of the people and environment. We will provide more updates as information becomes available." HM Coastguard said earlier it was coordinating the emergency response. A coastguard helicopter took off from Humberside and headed to the scene alongside lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Maplethorpe and Cleethorpes. HM Coastguard fixed-wing aircraft and nearby vessels with firefighting capability have also been involved in the operation. The East Midlands Ambulance Service said it received a call at 11:28am to North Quay in the Lincolnshire port town of Grimsby. It added in a statement: "We've sent multiple resources, including our Hazardous Area Response Team, and we are currently still on scene." 'Inspectors are gathering evidence' Meanwhile, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has sent investigators to the town. A spokesperson said: "Our team of inspectors and support staff are gathering evidence and undertaking a preliminary assessment of the accident to determine our next steps." The oil tanker is named Stena Immaculate and is sailing under a US flag, while the cargo ship is named Solong and is Portuguese-flagged, according to The Solong had been due to travel to Rotterdam in the Netherlands after departing from Grangemouth in Scotland this morning, shows. Moving images on the tracking site suggest the oil tanker had remained stationary as the Solong headed straight towards it before the collision. It is believed the Stena Immaculate, which was travelling from Greece to the UK, was anchored at the time. David McFarlane, director Maritime Risk and Safety Consultants, told Sky News it can take up to an hour to raise an anchor - meaning the tanker might not have had time to get out of the way. It comes as Mr Boyers said the container ship may have been on autopilot at the time of the crash. "Autopilot just steers a course, they don't deviate, there's no bend in the sea," he added. The American Maritime Officers union has said the tanker was part of a programme to have 10 ships capable of transporting oil for the US army in "times of need". The group said the Stena Immaculate was reflagged in August 2023 as part of a programme by the US Department of Defence and the US Maritime Administration. They would continue commercial operations but could be chartered by the US government on a short-term basis. It isn't known whether the Stena Immaculate was chartered under the programme at the time of the crash. 'Too early to assess environmental damage' Meanwhile visibility in the area had been poor before the collision this morning, according to the Met Office. "Areas of fog and low cloud lifting as winds increase through the morning, with some warm, if rather hazy sunny spells expected in places for a time," it said this morning. "Thicker cloud and a little rain moving southwards during the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14C." Greenpeace UK said the high speed of the collision and the footage of the aftermath "are cause for great concern".
Express Tribune
10-03-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Over 30 injured after oil tanker, cargo ship collide off English coast
Handout photo of black smoke billowing into the air after a crash between an oil tanker and a cargo ship off the coast of East Yorkshire. PHOTO: AP Listen to article An oil tanker and a cargo ship collided off the coast of East Yorkshire on Monday, causing a massive fire in one of the busiest shipping lanes in the region. At least 32 people were injured in the crash, prompting a large-scale rescue operation. According to a spokesperson for the United Kingdom's Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the collision occurred off the northeastern coast of England, where both vessels were set ablaze. British media outlets reported dramatic images showing thick black smoke and towering flames emanating from the two ships. Martyn Boyers, the chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, confirmed that 32 casualties had been brought ashore. While their exact conditions were not immediately known, Boyers mentioned that 13 casualties were transported aboard a Windcat 33 vessel, with another 19 brought in on a harbour pilot boat. 'It's too far out for us to see – about 10 miles – but we have seen the vessels bringing them in,' he stated, adding that witnesses had described a "massive fireball" following the collision. The incident prompted the deployment of helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, lifeboats, and fire-fighting vessels by the coastguard, which responded quickly to the alarm raised at 0948 GMT. Efforts are ongoing to contain the fire and secure the area as the situation develops.
Los Angeles Times
10-03-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Port chief says 32 people brought ashore after ships collide and catch fire in the North Sea
LONDON — An oil tanker and a cargo ship collided off the coast of eastern England on Monday, setting both vessels on fire and triggering a major rescue operation, emergency services said. At least 32 people were brought ashore, but their condition was not immediately clear. Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, said 13 casualties were brought in on a Windcat 33 high-speed vessel, followed by 19 more on a harbor pilot boat. Britain's Maritime and Coastguard Agency said several lifeboats and a coast guard rescue helicopter were dispatched to the scene in the North Sea, along with a coast guard plane and nearby vessels with firefighting capability. The RNLI lifeboat agency said, 'there were reports that a number of people had abandoned the vessels following a collision and there were fires on both ships.' It said three lifeboats were working on search and rescue at the scene alongside the coast guard. Video aired by the BBC and apparently filmed from a nearby vessel showed thick black smoke pouring from both ships. Boyers, the port chief, said he had been told there was 'a massive fireball.' 'It's too far out for us to see — about 10 miles — but we have seen the vessels bringing them in,' he said. 'They must have sent a mayday out. Luckily there was a crew transfer vessel out there already. Since then, there has been a flotilla of ambulances to pick up anyone they can find.' The tanker, believed to be the U.S.-flagged chemical and oil products carrier MV Stena Immaculate, was at anchor at the time after sailing from Greece, according to ship-tracking site VesselFinder. The cargo vessel, Portugal-flagged container ship Solong, was sailing from Grangemouth in Scotland to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Coast guards said the alarm was raised at 9:48 a.m. The site of the collision is off the coast of Hull, about 155 miles north of London. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was being kept up to date on the developing situation. 'I want to thank all emergency service workers involved for their continued efforts in responding to the incident,' she said. Lawless writes for the Associated Press.
Voice of America
10-03-2025
- General
- Voice of America
Port chief says 32 casualties brought ashore after ships collide and catch fire in North Sea
An oil tanker and a cargo ship collided off the coast of eastern England Monday, setting both vessels on fire and triggering a major rescue operation, emergency services said. At least 32 casualties were brought ashore, but their condition was not immediately clear. Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, said 13 casualties were brought in on a Windcat 33 vessel, followed by another 19 on a harbor pilot boat. Britain's Maritime and Coastguard Agency said several lifeboats and a coast guard rescue helicopter were dispatched to the scene in the North Sea, along with a coast guard plane and nearby vessels with firefighting capability. The RNLI lifeboat agency said, 'there were reports that a number of people had abandoned the vessels following a collision and there were fires on both ships.' It said three lifeboats were working on search and rescue at the scene alongside the coast guard. Video footage aired by the BBC and apparently filmed from a nearby vessel showed thick black smoke pouring from both ships. Boyers, the port chief, said he had been told there was 'a massive fireball." 'It's too far out for us to see — about 10 miles — but we have seen the vessels bringing them in," he said. The tanker, believed to be the U.S.-flagged chemical and oil products carrier MV Stena Immaculate, was at anchor at the time after sailing from Greece, according to ship-tracking site VesselFinder. The cargo vessel, Portugal-flagged container ship Solong, was sailing from Grangemouth in Scotland to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Coast guard officials said the alarm was raised at 9:48 a.m. local time (0948 GMT). The site of the collision is off the coast of Hull, about 155 miles (250 kilometers) north of London.
