A collision between an oil tanker and a cargo ship in the
North Sea off the coast of England on Monday led to a major fire, leaving 32
people injured.
Emergency Response and Rescue Efforts
According to Britain’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency,
multiple lifeboats and a rescue helicopter were deployed to the accident site
near East Yorkshire. Grimsby port director Martin Boyers confirmed that the
injured individuals were transported to shore in three vessels, where
ambulances were lined up to provide medical assistance.
A spokesperson for the Swedish shipowner Stena Bulk, Lena
Alvling, confirmed that all crew members had survived the incident. Meanwhile,
the UK Coast Guard coordinated rescue operations and assessed potential
pollution risks resulting from the accident.
Images broadcasted on UK television captured thick black
smoke and flames rising from the collision site, located approximately 16
kilometers (10 miles) off the coast. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution
(RNLI) reported that fires had broken out on both ships, with lifeboat services
actively responding.
There were also unconfirmed reports of crew members
abandoning their vessel. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) stated
that firefighting and search-and-rescue operations were the immediate priority.
Official Reactions and Ongoing Investigation
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed concern
over the incident, stating that she was in close communication with officials
and HM Coastguard as the situation evolved. She also acknowledged the swift
response of emergency teams.
The alert about the accident near Hull, East Yorkshire, was
raised at 09:48 GMT. A large-scale rescue operation was launched, involving a
Coast Guard helicopter, aircraft, lifeboats from four towns, and nearby
vessels.
Ships Involved in the Collision
Stena Bulk, a Swedish company, confirmed that the oil tanker
involved belonged to them but was operated by Crowley, a US-based maritime
firm. Online tracking service MarineTraffic identified the tanker as Stena
Immaculate, which had been traveling from Greece carrying petroleum
products and was anchored near its destination, Immingham, close to Hull.
The cargo ship involved was named Solong, sailing
under the Portuguese flag and owned by the German company Reederei Koepping,
according to MarineTraffic data.
Associated British Ports (ABP), which manages the ports of
Hull and Immingham, stated that they were aware of the incident and were
assisting the Coastguard in handling the situation.