A cargo ship struck a tanker Monday in a fiery crash in the North Sea off the coast of eastern England, causing fuel to stream into local waters.
The tanker, named the MV Stena Immaculate, which carries oil and chemicals and features the U.S.’s flag, had been close to the port of Grimsby and at anchor early Monday, the Associated Press reported. Solong, the cargo ship featuring Portugal’s flag, had been on its way to Scotland’s Grangemouth when it hit the side of the Stena Immaculate.
The Stena Immaculate had also been involved in a group of commercial vessels that have the ability, if required, to be contracted for fuel carrying on the U.S. military’s behalf, the AP reported.
Most of the crew for both ships made it safely to shore, according to the AP, but one of Solong’s crew members was missing, per a statement from the ship’s owner. Twelve hours after the crash, the ships continued to be on fire, according to British coast guards.
The UK’s Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, said in a post on the social platform X Monday that she was “concerned to hear of the collision between two vessels in the North Sea this morning and am liaising with officials and HM Coastguard as the situation develops.”
“I want to thank all emergency service workers involved for their continued efforts in responding to the incident,” she added.
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Crowley, a U.S company and the Stena Immaculate’s manager, said in a Monday release that it “is working closely with response agencies including the HM Coastguard to secure the vessel in a restricted safety area and initiate spill containment response.”
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The Hill has reached out to Ernst Russ and the U.S. Department of Defense for comment.
