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Collision between tanker and container ship sparks fears of contamination in the surrounding area
The US-flagged Stena Immaculate appears to have been hit while at anchor by the Portuguese-flagged container Solong, according to tracking data analysed by BBC Verify. It is suspected that the collision may have been caused by heavy offshore fog at the time of the incident.
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. According to the Guardian newspaper, an assessment of any required counter-pollution response is being carried out by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Crowley, the shipping company that manages the MV Stena Immaculate, said there were “multiple explosions onboard” after the oil tanker’s cargo tank was ruptured.
The BBC reported that the Solong was carrying toxic sodium cyanide, but it remains unclear if the substance entered the water. The broadcaster said it was understood the Stena Immaculate was transporting jet fuel for the US government.
A spokesperson for Greenpeace UK said it was monitoring the situation “very closely” but that it was too early to assess the extent of any environmental damage.
Crowley said in a statement: “At approximately 10am on 10 March 2025, while anchored off the North Sea coast near Hull, United Kingdom, the Crowley-managed tanker Stena Immaculate was struck by the container ship Solong.
“The Stena Immaculate sustained a ruptured cargo tank containing Jet-A1 fuel due to the allision. 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.”
It had departed from Grangemouth on Monday and was heading towards Rotterdam.
Analysis from our ALPS Marine platform shows that there is a regular flow of commodities including pharmaceuticals and heavy industrial products back and forth between both ports, with the average value of the trade estimated to be between $1.8 billion to $2.5 billion.
Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, says it is hoped both vessels can be secured, limiting environmental damage to the Yorkshire coastline.
Tow lines have been secured to the Solong, which has been drifting without power and was thought to be at risk of sinking today.
“Early indications suggest that both vessels are now expected to stay afloat and the Solong can be towed away from the shore, and salvage operations can get under way,” Alexander said.
Our thoughts are with the crew member who remains missing, but there is some hope to limit the environmental damage that both ships should stay afloat.
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