More than 30 casualties have been brought ashore following a collision between an oil tanker and a container ship off the northeastern coast of England, which sparked a massive fire on at least one of the vessels.
The incident occurred in the North Sea, with the Swedish-owned oil tanker, Stena Immaculate, confirmed to be carrying all crew members safely. Lena Alvling, a spokesperson for Stena Bulk, the ship’s Swedish owner, confirmed that all personnel aboard the tanker were alive.
The UK Coastguard launched an immediate emergency response, deploying helicopters, lifeboats, fixed-wing aircraft, and nearby vessels equipped with firefighting capabilities to assist with the rescue operation.
Casualties from the incident were taken to the Port of Grimsby East, where ambulances were waiting to transport them to nearby hospitals. While their exact conditions remain unclear, the response is ongoing.
The collision involved the Stena Immaculate, a US-flagged chemical tanker, and the Solong, a Portuguese-flagged container ship. The fire that erupted following the crash caused significant damage to at least one of the vessels, with TV footage showing black smoke billowing into the sky. The Solong was en route to Rotterdam when the incident occurred, and the Stena Immaculate was anchored off Immingham at the time of the crash.
The busy waterway where the collision occurred is a key shipping route connecting Britain’s northeast ports to the Netherlands and Germany. The Stena Immaculate is also part of a US government program supplying fuel to the armed forces.
The Stena Immaculate is insured under a protection and indemnity policy, which covers environmental damage, crew injuries, and fatalities. Shipping sources noted that the Solong was also involved but did not immediately comment on the vessel’s involvement or condition.
The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization confirmed it was monitoring the situation. British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed concern over the collision, thanking emergency service workers for their ongoing efforts to manage the crisis.
The UK Coastguard is currently assessing the potential for pollution as a result of the collision and continues to coordinate the emergency response. The collision was first reported at 9:48 a.m., with the Coastguard and other responders continuing their operations into the afternoon.
