The captain of the cargo ship involved in a collision off the English coast with a U.S. oil tanker, which resulted in a significant fire and jet fuel spill, is a Russian citizen. The incident has also left one crew member presumed dead.
The 59-year-old captain was taken into custody on Wednesday on suspicion of manslaughter due to gross negligence, according to Ernst Russ, the owner of the Solong, a cargo vessel sailing under the flag of Portugal. Ernst Russ also stated that the ship’s 14-person crew consisted of both Russian and Filipino individuals, with one member still missing and believed to have died.
On Monday, the Solong collided with the MV Stena Immaculate, a U.S.-flagged tanker transporting jet fuel for the American military. Crowley Ship Management, based in the U.S., reported that the MV Stena Immaculate was anchored near Hull when the collision occurred. All 23 crew members are “safe and accounted for” with no injuries reported.
According to the Associated Press, an inspection of the Solong in Dublin, Ireland, last July revealed 10 deficiencies.
Port inspection documents indicated that the Solong failed safety checks related to steering, with the vessel’s “emergency steering position communications/compass reading” being unreadable. Other issues included “inadequate” alarms, survival craft that were “not properly maintained,” and fire doors that were “not as required.”
A subsequent inspection in Scotland in October identified two additional deficiencies. However, the AP reported that the ship was not detained following either inspection.
U.K. authorities have stated that they do not suspect any foul play in connection with the collision.
The 596-foot Stena Immaculate was operating within the U.S. government’s Tanker Security Program, which comprises commercial vessels available for fuel transport when needed.
On Tuesday, the ship’s owner stated that Crowley continues to work closely with U.K. agencies to support the incident response, salvage, and environmental impact mitigation operations resulting from container ship Solong striking the Crowley-managed tanker Stena Immaculate while at anchor on Monday, March 10.
Crowley further stated that the volume of fuel released as a result of the incident remains uncertain at this time, but initial review shows impacts have been limited due to exposure to the fire and evaporation of the Jet A1 fuel, adding that U.K agencies are closely monitoring air quality and any possible public health impacts resulting onshore and that Both are currently measuring low or within normal levels.
Officials reported on Wednesday that the Solong was drifting and still on fire, but is likely to remain afloat.
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