Detained captain of cargo ship that collided with US tanker is Russian national
A Russian national was identified as the captain of the cargo ship involved in a collision with a U.S. tanker off the coast of England. The incident resulted in a massive fire, spilled jet fuel into the sea, and left one crew member feared dead. The 59-year-old captain is currently in police custody in the United Kingdom on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence. The cargo ship, named Solong, is owned by Ernst Russ and had a crew of 14 members, consisting of Russian and Filipino nationals. Unfortunately, one crew member is still missing and presumed dead.
The collision occurred between the Solong and the MV Stena Immaculate, a U.S.-flagged tanker. The MV Stena Immaculate was carrying jet fuel for the American military and was anchored near Hull when it was struck. Thankfully, all 23 crew members on board the tanker are safe and unharmed. The Solong had previously been inspected in Dublin, Ireland, where it was found to have several deficiencies related to steering, alarms, survival craft maintenance, and fire doors.
Despite the inspection findings, the ship was not detained after either inspection. However, U.K. authorities have stated that they do not suspect foul play in the collision. The Stena Immaculate was part of the U.S. government’s Tanker Security Program, which contracts commercial vessels to carry fuel for the military when needed. Crowley Ship Management, the owner of the tanker, is working closely with U.K. agencies to support incident response, salvage, and environmental impact mitigation operations.
The collision resulted in a massive fire on the Solong, which was still drifting and on fire as of Wednesday. However, officials believe that the ship is likely to remain afloat rather than sinking. The environmental impact of the incident is being closely monitored, with air quality and public health impacts being assessed. The situation is ongoing and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
