A major rescue operation is ongoing following a collision between an oil tanker and a cargo ship in the North Sea on Monday, which caused a massive blaze and left 32 people injured.
The injured individuals have been transported ashore for treatment, with “three vessels” involved in the operation, according to Martin Boyers, the director of Grimsby port. He further mentioned that “ambulances were queued on the quay” awaiting the injured.
The UK Coastguard is leading the rescue efforts after receiving reports of the collision between the tanker and cargo vessel off the coast of East Yorkshire, a Coastguard spokesperson confirmed. The spokesperson also added that an assessment was underway to determine the necessary pollution control measures.
UK television footage showed large plumes of thick black smoke and flames rising from the scene, which was located approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the coast. Firefighters are responding to reports of “fires on both ships,” as confirmed by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
The RNLI also reported that “a number of people had abandoned the vessels” following the incident.
The International Maritime Organization has stated that the primary focus is on firefighting and search-and-rescue operations.
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed concern over the collision and assured that she was in contact with officials and the HM Coastguard as the situation developed. She also extended her gratitude to the emergency services who responded swiftly to the scene.
The alert about the collision near the port city of Hull in East Yorkshire was raised at 0948 GMT. A large-scale rescue operation involving a Coastguard helicopter, aircraft, lifeboats from four towns, and other nearby vessels has been launched.
The Swedish tanker company, Stena Bulk, confirmed that the oil tanker involved in the collision was owned by them and operated by Crowley, a US-based maritime company. The tanker, identified as the Stena Immaculate, had just anchored near its destination in Immingham, near Hull, after traveling from Greece loaded with petroleum products, according to MarineTraffic.
The cargo ship involved, the Portuguese-flagged Solong, is owned by the German company Reederei Koepping, according to the MarineTraffic shipping tracker.
Associated British Ports (ABP), which operates the Port of Hull and Immingham, confirmed that they are aware of the incident and are assisting the Coastguard with the situation.
While collisions are rare in the North Sea, there have been some notable incidents in recent years. In October 2023, two cargo ships collided near Germany’s Heligoland islands, resulting in the deaths of three people. Additionally, in 2015, the Flinterstar freighter sank after colliding with the Al Oraiq tanker off the Belgian coast, leading to significant loss.
Rescue operations continue, and authorities are working to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
