Man arrested over manslaughter after oil tanker and cargo ship crash

Key Points

A man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after a tanker and a cargo ship crashed in the North Sea. Humberside Police have taken a 59-year-old male into custody after the Stena Immaculate and Solong collided off the coast of Grimsby.

The search for a missing crew member from the cargo ship has been called off as vessels involved burned through the night. Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson said: "Humberside Police have taken primacy for the investigation of any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision between the two vessels. "Extensive work has already been carried out, and we are working closely with our partners to understand what happened, and to provide support to all of those affected.

"Following enquiries undertaken by my team, we have arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision, this follows the conclusion of search operations by HM Coastguard for the missing crew member of the Solong. "Our thoughts are with the family of the missing crew member, and I have appointed Family Liaison Officers to make contact and provide support to the family. "The man arrested remains in custody at this time whilst enquiries are underway, and we continue speaking with all those involved to establish the full circumstances of the incident."

In a statement, HM Coastguard said the missing person from the Solong container ship had not been found after "an extensive search", following the ship's collision with the Stena Immaculate tanker off the coast of East Yorkshire on Monday morning. As of Tuesday afternoon, Solong is still alight and has drifted away from the original site of the collision while the fire on board the Stena Immaculate has greatly diminished. [embedded content]

Minister Matthew Pennycook told Times Radio, "The fire is obviously still raging". More than 30 casualties were brought ashore after the crash in the North Sea. Footage showed clouds of black smoke billowing into the air after the collision off the coast of East Yorkshire on Monday morning.

Solong owner Ernst Russ said the ship has "no containers on board ladened with sodium cyanide", after reports circulated that the ship was transporting the chemical.

Handout/Bartek SmialekBlack smoke billowed into the air after a crash between an oil tanker and a cargo ship off the coast of East Yorkshire on Monday. Handout/Bartek Smialek

A statement said: "We extend our deepest sympathy to the family of the missing crew member, mindful that the search has been called off. Our first thoughts must be with them at this uncertain and distressing time.

All necessary support is being provided to the family. "We continue to follow the situation closely surrounding this collision incident involving our vessel, Solong in the North Sea, off Hull, UK. Our focus remains the well-being of our 13 crew members that were evacuated from the container ship.

We also recognise the dangers that others are faced with as they work to stabilise and secure the vessels and cargos involved. "We are able to confirm that there are no containers on board ladened with sodium cyanide, as has been misreported. There are four empty containers that have previously contained the hazardous chemical, and these containers will continue to be monitored

"We would like to thank all of the emergency responders who have urgently deployed to the scene in support of this response effort. "Our team is actively engaged with all local authorities, and we will work with clean-up teams to ensure every effort is made to mitigate further impacts on the marine environment. "Ernst Russ will fully assist with the investigations that are to follow."

Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, HM Coastguard said: "Air quality at ground level has also been deemed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs as "within normal levels for the weather conditions. The Solong is still alight and the fire on board the Stena Immaculate has greatly diminished "Safety vessels and other vessels with firefighting capabilities are still on scene with more arriving today.

"At 11.20pm last night the Solong separated from the Stena Immaculate and began to drift southwards, this is being monitored by HM Coastguard. An exclusion zone of 1km radius has been put in place around both vessels. "The Counter Pollution and Salvage Team is assessing the situation and is developing a plan ready for implementation as soon as the situation allows.

"The SOSREP is working with ship owners, salvors and insurance companies. "The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is monitoring the situation closely and has confirmed that air quality at ground level is currently within normal levels for the weather conditions. "The UK Health Security Agency (HSA) is also assisting in the response, and has advised that any public health risk on shore is currently deemed to be very low.

"HSA risk assessments are under continual review as further information becomes available."

Shipping company Ernst Russ had said earlier on Monday evening that efforts to locate one of the 14 crew members aboard its Solong container ship were "ongoing". The statement read: "Both vessels have sustained significant damage in the impact of the collision and the subsequent fire. "13 of the 14 Solong crew members have been brought safely shore.

Efforts to locate the missing crew member are ongoing. "Ernst Russ immediately activated an emergency response team, and the company remains in contact with them, the Master of Solong and all relevant marine authorities at Humberside. "The first priority is the safety of the crew(s), all responders and the environment.

"A further update will be provided when information becomes available." A statement from Crowley, which manages the oil tanker, read: "At approximately 10am on March 10, 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 reportedly released. "The Stena Immaculate crew abandoned the vessel following multiple explosions onboard. All Crowley mariners are safe and fully accounted for.

"Crowley immediately initiated its emergency vessel response plan and is actively working with public agencies to contain the fire and secure the vessel. "Our first priority is the safety of the people and environment. We will provide more updates as information becomes available."

A spokesperson for Forth Ports said: "We confirm that the Solong container vessel sailed out of the Port of Grangemouth at 10.52pm on Sunday, March 9, heading for Rotterdam. "Separately, the Camperdown tug, which is part of Forth Ports' Targe Towing operation has been despatched to provide support if required." Lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter were called to the collision in the Humber Estuary on Monday morning, involving a US-flagged tanker called the MV Stena Immaculate.

The American tanker was at anchor, according to ship tracking tool Vesselfinder, and was carrying Jet A1 fuel and caught fire. Cargo ship the Solong is a Portuguese-flagged vessel that departed from Grangemouth on Sunday. Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, said 13 casualties were initially brought in on a Windcat 33 vessel, followed by another ten on a harbour pilot boat and nine on another pilot's vessel.

Mr Boyers said he had been told there was "a massive fireball", adding: "It's too far out for us to see - about ten miles - but we have seen the vessels bringing them in. "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 casualties' conditions remain unclear. UK transport secretary Heidi Alexander said: "I'm concerned to hear of the collision between two vessels in the North Sea this morning and am liaising with officials and HM Coastguard as the situation develops. "I want to thank all emergency service workers involved for their continued efforts in responding to the incident."The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has sent investigators to Grimsby following the crash between two vessels in the North Sea.

A spokesperson said: "The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has deployed a team to Grimsby following the collision of the Portuguese-registered container ship Solong and the US-registered oil tanker Stena Immaculate which collided in the North Sea this morning. "Our team of inspectors and support staff are gathering evidence and undertaking a preliminary assessment of the accident to determine our next steps." A HM Coastguard spokesperson said: "HM Coastguard is currently co-ordinating the emergency response to reports of a collision between a tanker and cargo vessel off the coast of East Yorkshire.

"The alarm was raised at 9.48am on Monday.

"A Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Humberside was called, alongside lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Maplethorpe and Cleethorpes, an HM Coastguard fixed wing aircraft, and nearby vessels with fire-fighting capability.

"The incident remains ongoing."

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