“Heroic” crew on a US oil tanker triggered a crucial fire-fighting system before abandoning ship after a crash in the North Sea.
Thanks to their efforts, only one of the jet fuel tanks on the Stena Immaculate was damaged – Crowley, the company managing the ship, said.
A salvage team has confirmed that 17,515 barrels of the 220,000 being carried have been lost, it said.
“The Coastguard position remains that there continues to be no cause for concern for pollution from the tanker,” a statement added.
Container ship Solong struck the Stena Immaculate off the east coast of Yorkshire on Monday morning and a fire on the tanker burned for three days after the incident.
A sailor from the container ship, 38-year-old Filipino national Mark Angelo Pernia, is missing and presumed dead.
Cal Hayden, vice president of Crowley said: “Before being forced to abandon ship, the crew had the dedication and presence of mind to ensure fire monitors were active in order to provide boundary cooling water to the adjacent cargo tanks.
“Their heroic action limited damage to only the cargo tanks impacted due to the allision.
“We remain fully committed to supporting the UK response to the striking of the Stena Immaculate and any environmental remediation.”
The salvage process is ongoing, the maritime company said.
The Solong’s captain, Vladimir Motin, 59, of Primorsky, St Petersburg, Russia, appeared at Hull Magistrates’ Court on Saturday morning charged with gross negligence manslaughter.
He will appear at the Old Bailey on April 14.
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