Captain of the SOLONG Cargo Ship Arrested After Fatal Collision with US Military-Chartered Tanker

A 59-year-old captain of a German-owned containership has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter following a collision with a US military-chartered tanker off the East Yorkshire coast of England, which has resulted in one crew member missing and both vessels on fire.

The incident took place around 10:00 UTC on Monday when the containership SOLONG collided with the anchored US-flagged tanker STENA IMMACULATE near Hull, where the tanker was waiting for a berth at the Port of Killingholme. The STENA IMMACULATE, operated by the US-based company Crowley, was carrying 220 000 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks when at least one of its tanks was breached during the collision.

AIS data indicates that the SOLONG was traveling at approximately 16 knots and did not take any evasive actions before colliding directly with the STENA IMMACULATE during a routine voyage from the Port of Grangemouth in Scotland to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. A crew member on the tanker reported that the incident occurred unexpectedly.

The German shipowner of SOLONG, Ernst Russ, confirmed that the captain has been detained by Humberside police. “The master and our entire team are actively assisting with the investigations. Out of respect for the investigation and all involved, we will not comment further at this time,” the company stated. Humberside Police have initiated a criminal investigation into the incident, collaborating with the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.

“Humberside Police have taken the lead in investigating any potential criminal offenses arising from the collision between the two vessels,” said Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson. “Following inquiries conducted by my team, we have arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision, following the conclusion of search operations by HM Coastguard for the missing crew member of the SOLONG.”

A significant emergency response was mobilized, including two HM Coastguard helicopters, multiple RNLI lifeboats, a coastguard fixed-wing aircraft, and several vessels equipped for firefighting.

Thirty-six crew members were safely evacuated to shore, while one crew member from the SOLONG remains unaccounted for after extensive search operations. Crowley has confirmed that all crew members aboard the STENA IMMACULATE are safe.

As of Tuesday at noon local time, Chief Coastguard Pat O’Callaghan reported that the SOLONG is still on fire, while the fire on the STENA IMMACULATE has significantly decreased. Authorities also reported that the SOLONG separated from the STENA IMMACULATE at 11:20 PM on Monday night and began drifting southward, prompting the establishment of a 1-kilometer exclusion zone around both vessels.

The STENA IMMACULATE, which is part of the US Maritime Administration’s Tanker Security Program, was chartered to the Military Sealift Command at the time of the incident.

“While under charter for the Military Sealift Command on this voyage, the tanker was anchored, awaiting berth availability at the Port of Killingholme, where it was scheduled to make a standard fuel delivery as part of a routine service under this program when it was struck,” explained Cal Hayden, vice president of Crowley global ship management.

A spokesperson for the US National Transportation Safety Board stated that they are investigating the incident in coordination with the US Coast Guard.

In the latest update from Crowley, the company mentioned that it is actively working with the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency on salvage operations while prioritizing the well-being of their mariners and mitigating environmental risks. Initial assessments indicate limited environmental impact due to fuel evaporation, and air quality monitoring shows low or normal levels.

“Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the incident and its impacts, and we defer to them for any questions about the cause,” Crowley stated.

Environmental concerns are being closely monitored, with the Counter Pollution and Salvage Team developing response plans. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has confirmed that air quality at ground level remains within normal levels, while the UK Health Security Agency has assessed the public health risk as very low.

The Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) is coordinating with ship owners, salvors, and insurance companies as the investigation into the incident continues. While foul play has not been ruled out, authorities are exploring all possible causes of the collision.