Oil tanker and cargo ship catch fire after collision in the North Sea
Off the coast of Lincolnshire, the oil tanker Stena Immaculate and the cargo ship Solong collided, after which both caught fire. 32 people were rescued, their condition is unknown.
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In the North Sea, 13 miles off the coast of Lincolnshire, a major collision occurred between the U.S.-flagged oil tanker Stena Immaculate and the Portuguese-registered cargo ship Solong, according to Sky News.
As a result, both vessels caught fire.
The incident took place on the morning of March 10. At 9:50 AM, the RNLI rescue service received a distress signal, after which four rescue crews, a coastguard helicopter, and several fire rescue vessels were dispatched to the crash site.
According to preliminary reports, 32 people were evacuated from the burning ships. They were transported to Grimsby Port on the high-speed vessel Windcat 33 and a pilot boat. Witnesses reported a "massive fireball" at the moment of the collision.
Experts suggest that Solong may have been on autopilot, while the tanker Stena Immaculate was anchored, making maneuvering difficult to avoid the accident.
There are also reports that the tanker may have been carrying aviation fuel.
Investigators from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch have been dispatched to the scene to collect evidence and analyze the circumstances of the collision.
The Coast Guard and rescue services, including helicopters and lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe, and Cleethorpes, arrived at the scene, according to The Telegraph.
According to the RNLI, several people jumped overboard.
Grimsby East Port Chief Martin Boyers reported that 32 victims were brought ashore by a pilot boat. The exact causes of the collision are being investigated.
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