Dozens of casualties after crash between oil tanker and cargo ship

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A cargo ship from Grangemouth has collided with an American oil tanker
32 casualties have been brought ashore but some crew members are yet to be accounted for
The Stena Immaculate oil tanker sustained a ruptured cargo tank after it was struck by container ship Solong
The Camperdown tug has been despatched from Aberdeen to provide support
Lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter were called to the collision in the Humber Estuary on Monday morning
Video shows fire and smoke billowing from the vessels

More than 30 casualties have been brought ashore after a crash between an oil tanker and a cargo ship in the North Sea.

Footage shows clouds of black smoke billowing into the air after the collision off the coast of East Yorkshire on Monday morning.

So far 32 casualties have been brought ashore – but some crew members are yet to be accounted for, a port boss has said.

Lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter were called to the collision in the Humber Estuary on Monday morning, involving a US-flagged tanker called the MV Stena Immaculate.

The American tanker was at anchor, according to ship tracking tool Vesselfinder, and was carrying Jet A1 fuel and caught fire.

Cargo ship the Solong is a Portuguese-flagged vessel that departed from Grangemouth on Sunday.

The Stena Immaculate oil tanker sustained a ruptured cargo tank after it was struck by container ship Solong in the North Sea today, causing “multiple explosions” and jet fuel to be released into the water, the ship’s management firm Crowley said.

A spokesperson for Forth Ports said: “We confirm that the Solong container vessel sailed out of the Port of Grangemouth at 10.52pm on Sunday, March 9, heading for Rotterdam.

“Separately, the Camperdown tug, which is part of Forth Ports’ Targe Towing operation has been despatched to provide support if required.”

Both vessels were forced to abandon.

Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, said 13 casualties were initially brought in on a Windcat 33 vessel, followed by another 10 on a harbour pilot boat and nine on another pilot’s vessel.

Mr Boyers said he had been told there was “a massive fireball”, adding: “It’s too far out for us to see – about ten miles – but we have seen the vessels bringing them in.

“They must have sent a mayday out – luckily there was a crew transfer vessel out there already.

“Since then there has been a flotilla of ambulances to pick up anyone they can find.”

The casualties’ conditions remain unclear.

UK transport secretary Heidi Alexander said: “I’m concerned to hear of the collision between two vessels in the North Sea this morning and am liaising with officials and HM Coastguard as the situation develops.

“I want to thank all emergency service workers involved for their continued efforts in responding to the incident.”The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has sent investigators to Grimsby following the crash between two vessels in the North Sea.

A spokesperson said: “The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has deployed a team to Grimsby following the collision of the Portuguese-registered container ship Solong and the US-registered oil tanker Stena Immaculate which collided in the North Sea this morning.

“Our team of inspectors and support staff are gathering evidence and undertaking a preliminary assessment of the accident to determine our next steps.”

A HM Coastguard spokesperson said: “HM Coastguard is currently co-ordinating the emergency response to reports of a collision between a tanker and cargo vessel off the coast of East Yorkshire.

“The alarm was raised at 9.48am.

“A Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Humberside was called, alongside lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Maplethorpe and Cleethorpes, an HM Coastguard fixed wing aircraft, and nearby vessels with fire-fighting capability.

“The incident remains ongoing.”