Shipwreck in the North Sea: Russian captain arrested

Hull - The fires on the huge shipwrecks off the English North Sea coast are under control. The police arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter. The German shipping company Ernst Russ confirmed to the German Press Agency that it was the captain of the container ship "Solong". The man is a Russian citizen.

Smoke billows from the cargo ship MV Solong in the North Sea off the coast of Yorkshire in England after it collided with the oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate on Monday.
Smoke billows from the cargo ship MV Solong in the North Sea off the coast of Yorkshire in England after it collided with the oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate on Monday.  © dpa/getty pool/AP | Dan Kitwood

On Monday morning, the "Solong" collided with the oil tanker "Stena Immaculate", which was carrying 220,000 barrels (almost 35 million liters) of jet fuel for the US military. Both ships caught fire and the fires raged for almost two days.

The British Coast Guard announced on Wednesday that there were no visible flames on board the "Stena Immaculate". An investigation on the ship involved in the accident could be possible soon. The extent and intensity of the fires on board the "Solong" had diminished considerably, the coast guard announced.

It is still unclear how much of the "Stena Immaculate's" fuel cargo may have leaked into the sea. According to the US shipping company Crowley, an initial inspection revealed that the kerosene had evaporated due to the fires.

According to Crowley, the fuel was spread across 16 tanks, at least one of which was damaged in the collision.

The accident caused huge clouds of smoke.
The accident caused huge clouds of smoke.  © dpa/Bartek Śmiałek/AP

36 crew members safe - one seaman presumed dead

This still from a Sky video shows the tanker MV Stena Immaculate in the North Sea off the coast of north-east England.
This still from a Sky video shows the tanker MV Stena Immaculate in the North Sea off the coast of north-east England.  © dpa/Sky via AP

A total of 36 crew members from both ships were brought safely ashore and one person received medical treatment. One seaman was missing and the search was suspended on Monday evening. The British Undersecretary of State Mike Kane confirmed that the death of the crew member of the "Solong" was assumed. Russian and Filipino nationals were working on the "Solong". According to the BBC, the crew of the "Stena Immaculate" consisted exclusively of US citizens.

The Ministry of Transport had announced that both ships were not expected to sink according to preliminary estimates. The Coast Guard wrote on Wednesday that the "Stena Immaculate" was at anchor and the "Solong" was being held by a tugboat at a safe position off the coast.

According to the Coast Guard, there have been no further reports of pollution in the North Sea from either vessel beyond what was observed during and after the collision.