On March 10, a serious maritime incident occurred off the eastern coast of England, where the tanker Stena Immaculate collided with the container ship Solong. Fleet operator Crowley reported that as a result of the collision and subsequent fire aboard the tanker, 17,500 barrels of aviation fuel were lost.
According to information from the salvage company SMIT Salvage (Boskalis), which was hired to conduct the operations, the collision caused damage to one of the cargo tanks containing aviation fuel, as well as to one ballast tank filled with seawater. The Stena Immaculate tanker, flying the flag of the United States, was carrying 220,000 barrels of Jet-A1 aviation kerosene. The salvage team confirmed that due to the damage and the resulting fire, a significant portion of the cargo was lost.
Cal Hayden, Vice President of Crowley Global Ship Management, emphasized the importance of the crew's actions on the tanker, who ensured that water monitors were operational to supply cooling water to adjacent cargo tanks before evacuation. This may have prevented more serious consequences for the vessel and the environment. However, the UK Coast Guard stated that they saw no cause for concern regarding potential pollution from the tanker.
Currently, a plan for salvage operations and towing of the affected vessel will be coordinated with the relevant authorities. UK authorities continue to investigate the causes of the incident to determine all circumstances surrounding the collision.
The incident became particularly tragic considering that during the accident, a fire broke out on both vessels, and rescue services were forced to evacuate 37 people. One person went missing and has been declared dead. The captain of the container ship Solong, a citizen of Russia, has been charged with manslaughter.
This incident highlights the importance of adhering to safety measures at sea and the need for thorough monitoring of cargoes, especially when it comes to transporting hazardous materials. In an era of increasing globalization and rising volumes of maritime transport, such incidents can have serious consequences for both the environment and human lives.