UPDATE: UK Coastguard continues to monitor both the SOLONG and Stena Immaculate post-collision

UPDATE 17/03/2025: As of Friday 14 March, small periodic pockets of fire remained on the SOLONG, but were not of much concern to the HM Coastguard.

The SOLONG was towed to a safe location on Wednesday March 12, where it remains being held in place by specialist tugs, while the Stena Immaculate has remained at anchor at its original location.

Chief Coastguard Paddy O’Callagahan said: “Regular aerial surveillance flights continue to monitor the vessels and confirm that there continues to be no cause for concern from pollution from either the STENA IMMACULATE or from the SOLONG.

“The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is also assisting in the response, and continues to advise that any public health risk on shore is deemed to be very low. The UKHSA will keep risk assessments under continual review as further information becomes available.”

UPDATE 11/03/2025: The Solong is still alight and the fire onboard the Stena Immaculate has greatly diminished, according to the HM Coastguard.

Safety vessels and other vessels with firefighting capabilities are still on scene with more arriving today.

At 11:20pm last night, the Solong separated from the Stena Immaculate and began to drift southwards.

The HM Coastguard is monitoring this movement, and an exclusion zone of 1km radius has been put in place around both vessels.

Chief Coastguard Pat O’Callaghan noted that the HM Coastguard is supporting the Secretary of State’s Representative (SOSREP) in the response to the collision between two vessels.

The SOSREP is working with ship owners, salvors and insurance companies.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is monitoring the situation closely and has confirmed that air quality at ground level is currently within normal levels for the weather conditions. 

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is also assisting in the response and has advised that any public health risk on shore is currently deemed to be very low.

A Portuguese container ship and US-flagged tanker collided off the coast of East Yorkshire in the North Sea, resulting in fires aboard both vessels, according to UK officials.

The HM Coastguard reported that the alarm was raised at 9:48am and the vessels have been identified as the containership MV Solong and tanker Stena Immaculate.

Both ships sustained significant damage and were abandoned by their crews.

In a statement published on March 10, 9:30pm, Matthew Atkinson, divisional commander for HM Coastguard, said: “36 crew members were taken safely to shore, one person was taken to hospital.

“One crew member of the Solong remains unaccounted for, after an extensive search for the missing crew member sadly they have not been found and the search has ended.”

At the time of his statement, the two vessels were still on fire and coastguard aircraft were monitoring the situation.

Furthermore, an assessment of any required counter pollution response is being carried out by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The Secretary of State’s representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention is working with the salvors and insurance companies.

A coastguard fixed wing aircraft and RNLI lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe and Cleethorpes were sent, alongside two HM Coastguard helicopters, along with several nearby vessels with firefighting capabilities.

Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks when it was struck.

The oil tanker’s management firm, Crowley, said that the vessel was struck on its port side by the Solong and, as a result, at least one cargo tank containing Jet-A1 fuel was ruptured.

All 23 Crowley mariners that were on board are safe and accounted for with no reported injuries as of the management firm’s statement.

Cal Hayden, VP of Crowley global ship management, said: “As with all our operations, Crowley’s priority is to protect the safety of mariners, and the environment.

“We greatly appreciate the quick actions and support of the UK authorities, rescue workers and others to today’s incident and remain committed to working with them on the continued response efforts.”

On March 11, Reuters reported that Dutch marine provider Boskalis will salvage the Stena Immaculate.

A spokesperson told Reuters that four ships carrying foam and extinguishing agents were on route to put out the fire caused by the collision.

Another company is to salvage the Solong, although the Boskalis spokesperson did not go into detail about who.