Ships on Fire in North Sea After Cargo Vessel Collides with Tanker
Accident Investigation Underway
Two ships were still on fire in the North Sea on Tuesday after a cargo vessel slammed into a tanker carrying flammable jet fuel, with the UK government ruling out foul play. The accident, which occurred on Monday, has raised concerns about the potential impact on the marine environment and coastline, home to seals, porpoises, and several species of protected waders and seabirds.
Missing Crew Member
A member of the Solong cargo vessel crew was missing, "likely deceased", according to a UK government minister. The UK Coastguard halted search operations late on Monday after rescuing all other crew members – 36 in total – from both ships.
Investigation Launched
An investigation has begun into the accident, which occurred at around 09:48 am (0948 GMT) on Monday when the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship ploughed into the US-flagged tanker, anchored about 13 miles (18 kilometres) off the northeastern port of Hull. The Stena Immaculate was on a short-term US military charter with Military Sealift Command, according to a spokesperson for the command, which operates civilian-crewed ships for the US Defense Department.
Sodium Cyanide Not Carried
The German owners of the Solong said on Tuesday that the container ship was not carrying sodium cyanide, as had been reported the previous day. "We are able to confirm that there are no containers on board with sodium cyanide (inside)," German shipping company Ernst Russ said. "There are four empty containers that have previously contained the hazardous chemical and these containers will continue to be monitored," it added.
Environmental Concerns
Four ships with firefighting capacity were on their way to the site, a Boskalis spokesperson said, adding that the tanker would need to be "cooled down" before the fire could be extinguished. UK Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said the investigation was being led by US and Portuguese authorities, since the vessels were sailing under their flags.
"We’re obviously very alive to the potential impact on the environment," he told Times Radio, but added the Coastguard was well equipped to deal with any oil spills. "The good news is… it’s not like a crude oil spill," Ivor Vince, founder of environmental risk advisory group ASK Consultants, told AFP. "Most of it will evaporate quite quickly and what doesn’t evaporate will be degraded by microorganisms quite quickly," he said.
Conclusion
The accident has raised concerns about the potential impact on the marine environment and coastline, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collision. While the UK government has ruled out foul play, questions remain about how the accident occurred, and the potential impact on the environment and wildlife.
FAQs
- What happened in the accident?
A cargo vessel collided with a tanker carrying flammable jet fuel, resulting in a fire and an investigation into the cause of the accident. - Are there any concerns about the environmental impact?
Yes, there are concerns about the potential impact on the marine environment and coastline, home to seals, porpoises, and several species of protected waders and seabirds. - Is the investigation underway?
Yes, an investigation has begun, led by US and Portuguese authorities, to determine the cause of the collision. - Is sodium cyanide involved?
No, the German owners of the Solong have confirmed that the container ship was not carrying sodium cyanide.