Captain of Solong Cargo Ship Found To Be Russian National
The captain of the Solong, a cargo ship that collided with the oil tanker Stena Immaculate in the North Sea, has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. Humberside Police confirmed that a 59-year-old Russian national is in custody as investigators examine the cause of the crash. The collision, which happened off the coast of East Yorkshire, caused massive fires and explosions, forcing dozens of crew members to abandon their vessels. One crew member from the Solong remains missing and is presumed dead.
Authorities have revealed that the Solong had failed multiple safety inspections in the past year. In July, officials found issues with its emergency steering communications, alarms, and fire doors, while an inspection in October flagged problems with its lifebuoys. Despite these warnings, the vessel continued operating before crashing into the anchored Stena Immaculate, which was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel. At least one cargo tank was ruptured, leading to a fire and fuel spill. The impact of the spill has been described as "limited," and an exclusion zone has been set up around the vessels.
Emergency services, including the Coastguard and firefighting vessels, responded to the disaster, rescuing 36 people. The fire on the Stena Immaculate has since diminished, but the Solong remains alight and has drifted southward. Investigations are ongoing, with shipping company Ernst Russ stating that they are fully cooperating with authorities. Meanwhile, environmental agencies continue to monitor the situation, with air quality levels reported to be within normal limits.
