3 days ago
23
March 11, 2025 | 05:53 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A tanker carrying jet fuel for the U.S. military was hit by a container ship off northeast England on Monday, with the collision igniting a blaze on both vessels, causing multiple explosions and forcing both crews to abandon ship.
The tanker, which can carry tens of thousands of tons of jet fuel, was at anchor when the smaller container ship struck it, rupturing its cargo tank and releasing fuel into the sea, its operator said. Its owner Stena Bulk gave the same details.
The tanker, the Stena Immaculate, operated by U.S. logistics group Crowley, was carrying Jet-A1 fuel when it was struck by cargo ship Solong while anchored near Hull, Crowley wrote on X.
The tanker is part of a U.S. government programme designed to supply the armed forces with fuel when required. A U.S. military spokesperson told Reuters on Monday it had been on a short-term charter to the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command.
The Solong's Hamburg-based owner Ernst Russ said separately that the vessel had been involved in a collision with the Stena Immaculate in an incident which took place at 1000 GMT whilst the vessel was transiting the North Sea, off the British coast of Humberside.
"Both vessels have sustained significant damage in the impact of the collision and the subsequent fire," Ernst Russ said in a statement.
"13 of the 14 Solong crew members have been brought safely shore. Efforts to locate the missing crew member are ongoing."
The Solong is carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide, a toxic chemical used mainly in gold mining, and an unknown quantity of alcohol, according to a casualty report from maritime data provider Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
Emergency teams sent a helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft, lifeboats and nearby vessels with firefighting capability to the incident on Monday morning.
"A fire occurred as a result of the allision and fuel was reported released," Crowley said. An allision is a collision where one vessel is stationary.
Crowley said there had been multiple explosions on board.
ENVIRONMENTAL RISK
Martin Slater, director of operations at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, said East Yorkshire’s coast was home to protected and significant colonies of seabirds including puffins and gannets, with many offshore on the sea ahead of the nesting season.
A Greenpeace spokesperson said any impact would depend on factors including the amount and type of oil carried by the tanker, the fuel carried by both ships, and how much of that, if any, had entered the water, plus the weather conditions.
One insurance specialist said the pollution risk was lower than if the tanker had been carrying crude oil.
"A lot depends really on cargo carried, how many tanks were breached and how bad the fire is," the insurance source said.
The coastguard said British government officials were working with salvage and insurance companies, adding that both vessels remained on fire with aircraft monitoring the situation.
Mark Sephton, professor of Organic Geochemistry at Imperial College London, added that the relatively small hydrocarbons of jet fuel could be degraded by bacteria more quickly than larger molecules.
"The fact that we are moving into warmer temperatures will also speed up biodegradation rates," he said.
The incident occurred in a busy waterway, with traffic running from the ports along Britain's northeast coast to the Netherlands and Germany, shipping industry sources said.
Maritime analytics website MarineTraffic said the 183-metre (600 ft)-long Stena Immaculate was anchored off Immingham, northeast England, when it was struck by the 140-metre (460 ft)-long Solong, which was en route to Rotterdam.
Ship insurer Skuld of Norway would only confirm that the Solong was covered with it for protection & indemnity (P&I), a segment of insurance that covers environmental damage and crew injuries or fatalities.
Stena Immaculate's P&I insurer, which was listed as Steamship, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
REUTERS | Jonathan Saul and Sachin Ravikumar
Editor's Choice: U.S. Lawmakers Decry ICE Arrest of Palestinian Student Activist Mahmoud Khalil
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
U.S.-Ukraine Talks Start in Saudi Arabia After Major Drone Attack on Russia
1 jam lalu
Ukraine's European allies argue that Ukraine can only negotiate a peace deal with Russia from a position of strength.
U.S. Lawmakers Decry ICE Arrest of Palestinian Student Activist Mahmoud Khalil
1 jam lalu
Several members of the US Congress condemn the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University alumnus who led pro-Palestinian solidarity actions
Top 10 Current Most Powerful Countries in the World
3 jam lalu
The most powerful countries not only wield significant economic influence but also in military strength and strategic international relations.
Saudi Crown Prince Meets Zelensky Ahead of US-Ukraine Talks
4 jam lalu
Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who was visiting Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Judge Temporarily Blocks Deportation of Arrested Palestinian Columbia Student
6 jam lalu
A U.S. judge on Monday ordered that the Palestinian student from Columbia University, Mahmoud Khalil, not be deported
Negotiations in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine to Propose Ceasefire in Air and Sea
9 jam lalu
Ukraine is set to propose a ceasefire in the air and sea with Russia during discussions with United States officials in Saudi Arabia.
Top 10 Most Beautiful Countries in the World: Indonesia, U.S. Included
12 jam lalu
Explore the 10 most beautiful countries in the world, from Indonesia to the U.S., featuring stunning natural landscapes and breathtaking views.
Trump's Trade War: Here Are the Import Tariffs U.S. Impose on Mexico, Canada, and China
21 jam lalu
US President Donald Trump has raised import tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China. How high are these Trump tariffs?
EU Sees No Reason to Derail Ties with U.S. Despite Trump's Policies
1 hari lalu
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said there is no reason to 'de-risk' the relationship between the EU and the United States.
8 Best Places to See Northern Lights in US in 2025, From Maine to North Dakota
1 hari lalu
Head to the best places to see Northern Lights in the US in 2025, where the vibrant colors of the celestial display light up the night sky.
