Captain of Solong cargo ship that crashed into oil tanker is a Russian national

The captain of MV Solong involved in the North Sea oil tanker crash is a Russian national, the shipping company revealed.

The US-flagged MV Stena Immaculate was anchored off the Humber Estuary, 10 miles from Hull, when it burst into flames in a fireball after the Portuguese-flagged Solong rammed into it.

Stena was loaded with more than 200,000 tons of highly flammable jet fuel for US warplanes, while both vessels were powered by heavy fuel.

Now the owner of Solong, Ernst Russ, has said that the 59-year-old captain is a Russian national.

Solong’s crew are Russian and Filipino nationals, Ernst Russ said today.

The cargo ship had failed steering-related safety checks, it has also been revealed.

Inspection documents from July last year show that Irish port officials rated Solong’s ’emergency steering position communications/compass reading’ as ‘not readable.’

Officials listed 10 deficiencies during an inspection of Solong when it was moored at Dublin. Other issues included alarms being ‘inadequate,’ survival craft ‘not properly maintained’ and fire doors ‘not as required,’ according to the Port state control (PSC) documents.

Scottish inspectors in Grangemouth found two further deficiencies with Solong in October last year – one of them was lifebuoys, which were ‘not properly marked.’

The captain was arrested yesterday following the crash, which left one sailor lost at sea and presumed dead, and he remains in custody after he was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

The crash sparked fears for an environmental disaster in the Humber Estuary after the massive ships collided on Monday morning.

However, ministers have said there were no signs of large-scale leaks affecting the coastline, while counter pollution measures were on standby.

Solong is no longer expected to sink, but it is still drifting. Fires on board Solong have been ‘greatly reduced,’ Virginia McVea, the chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said today.

The content of its cargo has not been revealed, but there were earlier fears that it might be loaded with hazardous sodium cyanide.

Ernst Russ said yesterday there are ‘no containers on board ladened with sodium cyanide.’ However, there are ‘four empty containers that have previously contained the hazardous chemical, and these containers will continue to be monitored,’ it said.

Humberside Police said: ‘Detectives are continuing to conduct extensive lines of inquiry alongside partners in connection with the collision between a tanker and cargo vessel in the North Sea, off the coast of Grimsby, north-east Lincolnshire.

‘A 59-year-old man remains in our custody, having been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision.’

Meanwhile, the US-owned Stena Immaculate remained anchored through the collision and most fires were put out yesterday.

Crowley, the owner of Stena, said it continues to assist the investigation.

It said: ‘It remains uncertain 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.

‘In addition, U.K agencies are closely monitoring air quality and any possible public health impacts resulting onshore. Both are currently measuring low or within normal levels.’

What happened to the sailors?

One Stena mariner, who asked not to be named as they were not allowed to speak to the media, told CBS News how they had only seconds to react after the collision.

All 23 sailors on board the Stena, thought to be US nationals, were taken to shore in Grimsby.

Thirteen of the sailors on MV Solong were rescued, but one mariner was not found despite a search.

The sailor was presumed dead yesterday and the UK government will do ‘everything to recover the body of the mariner,’ Mike Kane, minister for marine and aviation said.

Stena’s crew described how a ‘massive ship came out of nowhere,’ but when they realised what happened their training kicked in, BBC News reported.

They began fighting the flames in vain until they were forced to abandon the ship as the fire tore through the oil tanker.

As they climbed into the lifeboats, the flames were so close it burned the hair on their heads. Stena’s captain was the last to disembark, the broadcaster said.

Kane said yesterday that ‘something did go terribly wrong’ and that his thoughts and prayers ‘are with the missing sailor’s family.’

Stena’s owner Crowley said it is ‘prioritizing supporting the health and wellbeing of our marines in Grimsby and the response effort to mitigate environmental threats.’

What are the risks to the environment?

While neither of the ships is expected to sink, the risk of environmental damage is not over yet, although monitoring has suggested no large-scale impact at this stage.

Jet fuel, which Stena was carrying, is lighter than heavy engine fuel powering the vessels.

The East Yorkshire coast and the Humber Estuary are home to bird populations, including gannets, salmon, migrating fish species, and seal. Parts of the coastal waters have been designated as marine protected areas.

Dr Alex Lukyanov, from the University of Reading, said: ‘Forecasting the environmental impact oil spills is extremely complex. Oil spills like the one in the North Sea are affected by multiple factors.

‘The size of the spill, weather conditions, sea currents, water waves, wind patterns, and the type of oil involved all play crucial roles in determining environmental outcomes.

‘This particular incident is troubling because it appears to involve persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water. Unlike lighter oils that evaporate quickly, persistent oils like marine diesel can smother habitats and wildlife, affecting their ability to regulate body temperature, potentially resulting in death.

‘Over time, this oil will likely disperse into the water column in the form of emulsions, with the timeline depending on the level of turbulence in the area. The environmental toll could be severe.’

As of Tuesday evening, Crowley said the amount of fuel that might have been leaked ‘remains unclear.’

Crowley said that early reviews suggest that ‘impacts have been limited due to exposure to the fire and evaporation of the Jet A1 fuel.’

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