No pollution seen following North Sea collision due to ‘fortunate’ circumstances

Marine and Coastguard Agency

THE MARITIME and coastguard agency (MCA) has confirmed that no jet fuel appears to have spilled into the ocean following a collision between two ships near Hull, UK on Monday.

Mark Orr, executive director of UK & Ireland Spill Association, told TCE that “we have been very fortunate” that long-term pollution from the incident appears to have been avoided. He said this was mostly down to the intensity of the fire which burned jet fuel that escaped the ruptured compartments after the Portugal-flagged Solong cargo ship ploughed into the anchored US-flagged Stena Immaculate.

Orr added that “the wind has done us a favour” by distributing the smoke from the burning fuel away from the coast. Orr said he believes that the incident “has not adversely affected the populations of Humberside and Lincolnshire”.

UK government bodies including the Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) are involved in monitoring risks to health following the incident. The MCA, which is overseeing the overall response, said that aerial surveillance showed that “there does not appear to be any pollution from either the Stena Immaculate or Solong”.

Chief coastguard Paddy O’Callaghan said: “Small pockets of fire are still reported to be on the top deck of the Solong. These are being contained and monitored closely. Specialist vessels are present to support the firefighting effort.”  

The Stena Immaculate had been carrying jet fuel for the US military. The contents of 15 containers on board the Solong cargo ship have not yet been confirmed, although the ship’s owner said on Wednesday that four empty containers had previously been carrying the toxic chemical sodium cyanide.

The Solong had been travelling from Grangemouth in Scotland to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The ship’s captain was arrested on Tuesday.