The co-owners of the tanker Stena Immaculate are expressing deep gratitude to the crew following their courageous response during a collision with the cargo ship Solong on March 10 in the North Sea. The 23-member crew was hailed for their quick actions that helped extinguish flames and protect the vessel's integrity while dealing with a serious emergency situation.
A photo shared on social media by the Florida-based maritime company Crowley shows 19 crew members engaged in their duties. The company stated, “Their decisive efforts and teamwork to execute critical fire and emergency duties helped to save lives, protect the integrity of the vessel, and minimize the impact on the environment." This coordinated effort minimized the impact on only one of the 16 cargo holds despite the disaster’s severity.
The collision caused one crew member from the Portuguese-flagged Solong to go missing and is presumed dead. In response to the incident, the captain of the Solong has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter. Reports indicate that tiny plastic pellets intended for cargo were released but no containers were lost overboard; some smaller container openings reportedly opened due to heat during firefighting.
The HM Coastguard confirmed that 36 people from both vessels were successfully rescued and taken to safety in Grimsby. The ongoing retrieval operation aims to address the environmental aftermath, with an emphasis on monitoring potential environmental hazards posed by the leaked plastic pellets, known as nurdles.
The RNLI has expressed appreciation for local lifeboat crews who played a vital role during the rescue operation. Meanwhile, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has initiated an investigation to determine the precise causes of the collision. Regular surveillance flights are continuing to monitor both vessels to ensure safety as salvage operations unfold.
