The captain of the Solong, a cargo ship that collided with a U.S.-flagged oil tanker in the North Sea earlier this week, has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter, British police confirmed on Wednesday.
The 59-year-old Russian national, who has not been named, was taken into custody after the deadly incident, which left one crew member missing and presumed dead. The crash triggered a massive fire at sea and a major rescue operation off England’s eastern coast.
The collision occurred Monday morning about 16 kilometers off the coast near Hull, where the Solong, en route from Grangemouth to Rotterdam, struck the anchored tanker Stena Immaculate, which was carrying jet fuel for the U.S. military.
This was reported by Euronews.
Troubling Safety Record
Newly revealed port inspection records show the Solong failed multiple safety checks last year. In July, during a routine inspection in Dublin, inspectors found 10 safety deficiencies, including unreadable emergency steering communications, poorly maintained survival craft, faulty alarms, and fire doors that were “not as required.”
In October, another inspection in Scotland revealed two more deficiencies. Despite these findings, the ship was not detained after either visit.
The Solong is owned by German shipping company Ernst Russ and registered in Portugal.
The crew included a mix of Russian and Filipino nationals. The captain was reportedly detained shortly after the incident as UK authorities launched a joint investigation with Portuguese and U.S. officials, the countries under which the two vessels are flagged.
Ship Still Burning at Sea
By Wednesday, the Solong remained adrift and on fire, though officials said it was unlikely to sink. The tanker Stena Immaculate, which measures 183 meters and operates under the U.S. Tanker Security Program, was carrying fuel intended for the U.S. military and was stationary at the time of the collision.
In total, 36 crew members from both ships were safely evacuated. No serious injuries have been reported, but one sailor from the Solong remains missing.
The collision released jet fuel into the sea, raising alarm among environmental groups who warned of long-term damage to marine ecosystems. Experts say the spill threatens whales, dolphins, and seabirds such as puffins and guillemots that live along the nearby cliffs.
“There’s now toxic oil pouring into or very near a sensitive area designated to protect declining harbour porpoises,” Hugo Tagholm, executive director of Oceana UK, said earlier this week.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is working with law enforcement and international agencies to determine the cause of the crash. While police say there’s no indication of foul play, they continue to investigate how a vessel with a poor safety track record was able to operate in such sensitive waters.
The arrested captain remains in custody as inquiries continue.
