The captain of a cargo ship involved in a collision with a US tanker in the North Sea has been identified as a Russian national, according to the vessel's owner.
The incident, which is currently under investigation by authorities, occurred when the Solong container ship struck the Stena Immaculate, a tanker carrying jet fuel for the US military. The crash caused an explosion and fires on both vessels.
British police have arrested the 59-year-old captain of the Solong on suspicion of gross negligence and manslaughter. The collision took place approximately 13 miles (20 kilometers) off the coast of Hull, a port in northeastern England, where the Stena Immaculate was anchored at the time. Ernst Russ, the German company that owns the Solong, confirmed that the captain is Russian and that the ship’s crew consists of 14 members, including a mix of Russian and Filipino nationals.
One crew member is missing and presumed dead following the incident. Meanwhile, all 23 crew members aboard the Stena Immaculate, reported to be US citizens, were safely evacuated. A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that there is no indication of "foul play" in the incident. Maritime safety records show that the Solong had minor issues during an inspection last year, but none were serious enough to detain the vessel. The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch will collect preliminary information about the crash. However, the primary responsibility for the investigation lies with the US and Portuguese authorities, as they are the flag states of the involved vessels.
