The arrested captain of the Solong container ship is a Russian national, the vessel's owner has said.
Humberside Police said the 59-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision in the North Sea.
In a statement on Wednesday morning, the force said “a 59-year-old man remains in our custody” and detectives are “continuing to conduct extensive lines of inquiry”.
The rest of the crew were Russian and Filipino nationals, according to shipping company Ernst Russ.
It comes as port state control (PSC) inspection documents from July last year show Irish officials deemed Solong’s “emergency steering position communications/compass reading” was “not readable”.
This was among 10 deficiencies highlighted during the inspection of the Portuguese vessel in Dublin.
Other issues include alarms being “inadequate”, survival craft “not properly maintained”, and fire doors “not as required”.
Another PSC inspection by Scottish authorities in Grangemouth in October 2024 found two deficiencies with Solong.
Solong crashed into the tanker Stena Immaculate off the east coast of Yorkshire on Monday morning.
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Key Points
- Solong vessel failed safety checks
- Captain of Solong is a Russian National
- MV Stena was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel
- No sodium cyanide on board shipping container, says Solong owner
Watch | Extensive counter-pollution plan in place to combat North Sea collision, coastguard says
10:28
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Jabed Ahmed
Timeline | How devastating oil tanker crash unfolded
10:21
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Jabed Ahmed
10:09
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Jabed Ahmed
Jet fuel, sodium cyanide, and burning ship: What are the environmental risks after North Sea collision?
09:57
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Jabed Ahmed
Fuel spill from North Sea collision ‘having limited impact’, says boat manager
09:40
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Jabed Ahmed
A jet fuel spill from the collision between a tanker and a cargo ship in the North Sea has had a “limited” impact, the ship’s management firm said.
Crowley, the maritime company managing the Stena Immaculate, said it remains unclear how much Jet A1 fuel was released when it was hit by the Solong, but an initial review shows it had evaporated due to exposure to fires on both vessels.
Crowley said Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks, at least one of which “was ruptured” when it was struck.
In an update on Tuesday evening, the firm said: “It remains unclear at this time what volume of fuel may have been released as a result of the incident, but initial review shows impacts have been limited due to exposure to the fire and evaporation of the Jet A1 fuel.”
Dr Alex Lukyanov, researcher on advanced mathematical models of oil spills from the University of Reading, previously said the incident was “troubling” because it appeared to involve persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water, while he also suggested the “environmental toll could be severe”.
East Yorkshire skipper describes ‘panic and worry’ after North Sea collision
09:23
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Jabed Ahmed
My colleague Lucy Leeson reports:
Solong vessel failed safety checks
09:02
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Jabed Ahmed
Port state control (PSC) inspection documents from July last year show Irish officials deemed Solong’s “emergency steering position communications/compass reading” was “not readable”.
This was among 10 deficiencies highlighted during the inspection of the Portuguese vessel in Dublin.
Other issues include alarms being “inadequate”, survival craft “not properly maintained”, and fire doors “not as required”.
Another PSC inspection by Scottish authorities in Grangemouth in October 2024 found two deficiencies with Solong.
One of these was related to lifebuoys – designed to be thrown into the water to prevent drowning – being “not properly marked”.
Solong was not detained after the inspections in Dublin or Grangemouth.
PSC inspections are carried out on ships in ports around the world.
They are aimed at verifying the condition of a vessel and that its equipment meets international regulations.
Captain of Solong is a Russian National
09:00
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Jabed Ahmed
The captain of the Solong is a Russian national, the vessel's owners have said.
The rest of the crew were Russian and Filipino nationals, according to shipping company Ernst Russ.
Ernst Russ, which owns Solong, confirmed the vessel’s captain had been arrested by Humberside Police on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after a crew member was presumed dead when a search-and-rescue operation was ended on Monday evening.
The 59-year-old man remains in custody and the force has launched a criminal investigation into the cause of the crash.
Fears for hundreds of thousands of seabirds on the East Yorkshire coast after North Sea collision
08:30
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Stuti Mishra
Bempton Cliffs, near Bridlington in East Yorkshire, sees around 500,000 seabirds gather there between March and August to breed on the towering white cliffs that overlook the North Sea.
The Independent visited the wildlife site, home to puffins, gannets, kittiwakes and guillemots on Tuesday (11 March), just a day after the collision.
Watch:
Timeline: How devastating oil tanker crash unfolded
07:30
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Stuti Mishra
Anchored 13 miles from the coast, the US-flagged Stenna Immaculate was set for a routine stop at the Humber Estuary port in East Yorkshire.
But a “massive” ship “came out of the blue” on Monday morning and smashed into the 183-metre oil tanker, causing an instant fireball which was still burning 24 hours later.
The Portuguese-flagged cargo ship Solong, which was sailing to Rotterdam, collided with the tanker laden with 35 million litres of US military jet fuel.
Here's the full timeline:
Some flames still visible on Solong's main deck
07:30
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Stuti Mishra
HM Coastguard said yesterday evening that some flames were still visible on the Solong's main deck and firefighting efforts are focusing on this area.
It said the Stena Immaculate remains at anchor with safety tug boats and has a "greatly reduced" fire with no visible flames.
Four empty containers on board that "previously contained the hazardous chemical" will "continue to be monitored", said shipping firm Ernst Russ, which owns the Solong.
Mapped: Where did the North Sea ships collide?
06:38
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Stuti Mishra
The collision took place on the Humber Estuary in East Yorkshire, with the oil tanker at anchor.
Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, said he had been told there was “a massive fireball” following the crash.
Drifting container ship now expected to stay afloat, transport secretary says
06:30
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Stuti Mishra
The Solong container ship is now expected to stay afloat, transport secretary Heidi Alexander has said.
Earlier transport minister Mike Kane said the vessel was expected to sink.
Ms Alexander said she was reassured by indications from the ship’s owners that the sodium cyanide containers on board were empty, with salvors working to confirm this.
"I was also pleased to have been informed that early indications suggest that both vessels are now expected to stay afloat and that the Solong can be towed away from the shore, and salvage operations can get under way," she said.
Listen: Coastguard call after oil tanker and cargo ship collide in North Sea
05:49
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Stuti Mishra
In this audio, which was shared on social media, you can hear the Coastguard’s emergency call after an oil tanker and cargo ship collided in the North Sea off the East Yorkshire coast.
Video: Extensive counter-pollution plan in place after North Sea collision, coastguard says
05:15
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Stuti Mishra
East Yorkshire skipper describes ‘panic and worry’ after North Sea collision
04:45
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Stuti Mishra
It is dubbed the “Lobster Capital of Europe”, with around 3,000 tonnes of the crustaceans landing there every year.
Skipper owner Neil Robson knows just how much the East Yorkshire seaside town of Bridlington relies on its shellfish trade having fished out of the area all his life and his family-business, Genesis Fishing Ltd, now catching crab and lobster for the UK and international markets.
The 63-year-old was on board his boat Genesis on Monday when a message came over the radio of a major collision involving a cargo ship and oil tanker in the North Sea.
Expert warns of 'devastating' effect on marine ecosystems and wildlife
04:15
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Stuti Mishra
Tom Brook, an ocean conservation specialist at WWF-UK, said: “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident. While it's too soon to fully understand the impacts, we know that oil spills can have devastating and long-lasting effects on marine ecosystems and wildlife.
“However, many marine species, including fish and dolphins likely moved away from the scene quite quickly, and the full environmental impact may not be clear until we understand the scale of the event.
“Unlike other oil spills, we may not see birds, other species, or habitats drenched in oil. From the information available, the incident involves jet fuel, which is likely to evaporate off more rapidly than heavier oils. The ability to respond quickly may also help mitigate the broader environmental impact, in an otherwise tragic situation.”
Ports re-open after collision but with restrictions
03:42
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Stuti Mishra
The Humber ports of Grimsby, Immingham, Hull and Goole re-opened yesterday evening, according to the their owner Associated British Ports (ABP).
Restrictions remain in place while the ABP "continues to support ongoing emergency operations," it said.
Shipping company says impact of fuel spill ‘limited’ but full extent unclear
03:11
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Stuti Mishra
The full extent of a fuel leak following the North Sea tanker collision remains uncertain but Crowley, the company managing the Stena Immaculate oil tanker, says the initial impact appears to be minimal.
"It remains unclear at this time what volume of fuel may have been released as a result of the incident, but initial review shows impacts have been limited due to exposure to the fire and evaporation of the Jet A1 fuel," the company said.
Full story: Cargo ship captain arrested after oil tanker collision in North Sea as experts warn coming hours are ‘critical’
02:00
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Athena Stavrou
The captain of a cargo vessel has been arrested after a collision with an oil tanker off the East Yorkshire coast, as experts warn the coming hours will be “critical” in determining environmental impact of the crash.
Owners of the Solong container ship confirmed its captain had been arrested, hours after Humberside Police said it had arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter following the collision between the Portuguese vessel and US tanker Stena Immaculate.
One crew member from the Solong is still missing and presumed dead, after a search and rescue operation was ended on Monday evening.
Read the full story:
