Container ship pictured leaving Aberdeen harbour five months after fatal collision

A container ship, which was involved in a fatal maritime collision, has been pictured being towed out of Aberdeen harbour.

The Solong collided with the anchored tanker Stena Immaculate about 12 miles off the coast of East Yorkshire on March 10, leaving one man missing, presumed dead.

Thousands of plastic pellets, called nurdles, were released from ruptured containers on the Solong and began washing up on beaches on the Norfolk coast, where a clean-up operation is continuing.

The vessel was towed to Aberdeen for safe berthing. It has since been pictured under tow, leaving the North East city’s South Harbour with the final destination believed to be Ghent, Belgium.

The MV Solong was taken to Aberdeen Harbour for safe berthing. Doug Watson

A total of 36 people were rescued from the ships following the incident, but a sailor from the Solong – named as 38-year-old Filipino national Mark Angelo Pernia – is missing and presumed dead.

The Solong’s captain, Vladimir Motin, 59, of St Petersburg, Russia, appeared at Hull Magistrates’ Court and at the Old Bailey, charged with gross negligence manslaughter and was remanded in custody.

A Port of Aberdeen spokesperson said: “Early on Saturday, August 9, the casualty vessel Solong left Crathes Quay in Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and was clear of the navigational channel and Port District by 9.50am.

“MarineTraffic publicly lists the assisting tug Multratug 36’s destination as Ghent, Belgium. We do not have any further information to share at this time.”