Solong’s captain held on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter following deadly crash with tanker

A Russian national has been arrested following a tragic ship collision in the North Sea, which led to a presumed death. The 59-year-old captain of the container ship Solong was taken into custody on Tuesday, facing allegations of gross negligence manslaughter after the vessel collided with a US-flagged tanker, Stena Immaculate, on Monday, about 12 miles off the coast of East Yorkshire.

The collision resulted in a fiery explosion, with the tanker, carrying jet fuel for the American military, catching fire. The Solong, which was en route from Grangemouth in Scotland to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, struck the tanker while moving at around 16 knots (18 mph). Both ships were engulfed in flames after several explosions, prompting a rescue operation that saved 36 crew members, including Americans aboard the Stena Immaculate and Russian and Filipino nationals from the Solong.

Initial fears regarding the Solong’s cargo, which was thought to contain the toxic chemical sodium cyanide, were alleviated when it was confirmed that the four containers once holding the substance were now empty. Onshore air quality testing confirmed there was no risk to public health, and the Met Office modelling showed no immediate threat.

Despite drifting at least 2 miles south of the crash site, the Solong is now securely anchored with the aid of a tugboat, and the Stena Immaculate is also stabilised in place. However, some of the 220,000 barrels of jet fuel aboard the tanker were likely burned in the fireball, raising concerns about potential environmental pollution.

The Coastguard continues to monitor the situation closely. John Craig, Assistant Chief Coastguard, assured that a comprehensive response to potential pollution was in place, and Humberside police, along with other agencies, were working to ensure public and environmental safety.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has begun investigating the cause of the crash, but Humberside police have also launched a parallel investigation into the death of the man presumed to have perished in the incident.

Ernst Russ, the owner of the Solong, confirmed the arrest and stated that the company was fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. The detained captain remains in custody as inquiries continue into the circumstances surrounding the deadly collision.

“We are actively assisting with the investigations,” said the maritime company, refraining from further comment out of respect for those involved. Humberside police are continuing to work with all parties involved in the case to uncover the full details of the incident.