Russian Captain Arrested After Cargo Ship Crashes into US Tanker Off English Coast
Authorities have arrested the captain of the Solong cargo ship—a Russian national—following a devastating collision with a US-flagged tanker off the English coast, the ship’s owner confirmed Wednesday. Maritime experts are now investigating how such a catastrophic crash could have occurred despite advanced navigation systems.
The Solong collided with the Stena Immaculate while it was anchored in the North Sea, setting both vessels ablaze. The tanker, carrying massive quantities of jet fuel for the US military, prompted an urgent rescue response from the British coastguard.
British police have launched a criminal investigation into the incident and arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. Ernst Russ, the company that owns the Solong, confirmed that the arrested individual is the ship’s captain and that the crew consists of both Russian and Filipino nationals.
Questions Over How the Crash Happened
Martyn Boyers, CEO of the nearby Port of Grimsby East, expressed shock over the incident, questioning how a modern cargo ship could crash despite sophisticated navigation technology.
“It’s a mystery,” Boyers told CNN. “All vessels have highly advanced equipment to detect obstacles and plot safe courses. How did the Solong continue plowing into a stationary vessel? There must have been warning signs.”
Fire and Environmental Concerns
More than a day after the crash, the Solong was still burning, though the fire on the Stena Immaculate had been extinguished by Tuesday. A missing crew member from the Solong is now presumed dead after search efforts were called off, Britain’s maritime minister Mike Kane confirmed. The remaining 13 crew members were rescued, as well as all 23 personnel aboard the Stena Immaculate.
The Stena Immaculate, managed by US logistics firm Crowley, is part of a US Department of Defense program supplying fuel to the military. It was carrying approximately 220,000 barrels of jet fuel at the time of the collision.
Environmental groups have warned of the severe consequences if jet fuel leaks into the North Sea, posing a major threat to marine life. There were also initial fears that the Solong was carrying large amounts of sodium cyanide, a highly toxic chemical. However, Ernst Russ clarified that the ship was transporting four empty containers that had previously held the substance.
Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to determine the cause of the collision and assess the full extent of the environmental impact.
