The co-owners of a tanker that collided with a cargo ship in the North Sea have praised the “exceptional bravery” of the crew involved. The accident occurred on March 10, when the tanker, Stena Immaculate, collided with the cargo ship Solong near East Yorkshire.
This incident resulted in an explosion and subsequent fires, which have since been brought under control. Tragically, a Filipino crew member from the Solong is currently missing and presumed dead.
The captain of the cargo vessel, Vladimir Motin, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter. It was also reported that tiny plastic pellets from the Solong were released during the incident, with sightings of these pellets, known as nurdles, appearing on beaches in Lincolnshire and Norfolk.
Crowley, a Florida-based maritime operations company overseeing the tanker, shared a photograph of 19 crew members. They expressed their gratitude towards the 23 mariners onboard the Stena Immaculate for their quick thinking and bravery during the crisis.
Their efforts in executing crucial fire and emergency procedures reportedly saved lives, protected the ship’s integrity, and minimized environmental damage. The HM Coastguard confirmed that a total of 36 individuals from both vessels were rescued and taken safely to shore in Grimsby.
A subsequent retrieval operation was launched to address the nurdles sighted along the coastline. The National Trust and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust reported findings of nurdles at various locations, urging the public to refrain from handling the material.
Shipping company Ernst Russ, owners of the Solong, confirmed the presence of plastic nurdles among their cargo. They stated that while no containers had been lost, the intense heat from firefighting efforts may have led to some minor leaks.
Meanwhile, authorities are continuing to monitor the condition of both vessels as salvage operations unfold.