The collision between a Portuguese-flagged cargo ship and a US oil tanker has sparked a major salvage operation in a bid to avoid an environmental disaster off the UK coast
The North Sea cargo ship captain who was in charge of the cargo ship when it hit a US oil tanker has been revealed to be a Russian national.
The owner of the Solong ship Ernst Russ confirmed on Wednesday the captain was a Russian national. The rest of the crew is understood to have been made up of Russian and Filipino nationals, according to the company.
It comes after police arrested the 59-year-old captain of the Solong on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter on Monday. He remains in custody.
A Humberside Police spokesperson told The Mirror: “Detectives are continuing to conduct extensive lines of enquiry alongside partners in connection with the collision between a tanker and cargo vessel in the North Sea, off the coast of Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire. A 59-year-old man remains in our custody having been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision.”
One crew member is missing and presumed dead following the collision at about 10am on Monday. A search and rescue operation was suspended the same day.
The crewmember’s identity has not been revealed at this time. UK Government officials have said there is no indication of foul play and an investigation into the collision has since been launched.
Monday’s collision happened about 13 miles off the coast of East Yorkshire in what is a busy shipping lane between the UK and mainland Europe. The US tanker had been anchored in the shipping lane since Sunday evening while the Solong approached from the north.
Following the collision, flames erupted from the Stena Immaculate with one of its fuel tanks containing jet fuel having ruptured. It is unclear how much oil has entered the water as of Wednesday morning.
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