Tanker Carrying Fuel for the U.S. Military Collides With Cargo Ship in the North Sea

What Happened?

An oil tanker in the North Sea collided with a cargo ship Monday, setting the oil tanker on fire and forcing the rescue of dozens of injured crewmembers. 

The oil tanker, a U.S. registered ship named the Stena Immaculate, was reportedly carrying fuel for the U.S. military. The other ship, the Portuguese flagged Solong, was transporting dangerous chemicals, including sodium cyanide. 

Authorities have not ruled out foul play, though at this time there is no direct evidence the incident was an intentional act.

Why it Matters

According to initial reports the oil tanker was at anchor off England’s Yorkshire coast before it was struck by the Solong. When two ships are in motion in rough seas or poor visibility, a collision can be more likely.

But when one of the ships is anchored and the other isn’t, as appears to be the case here, it raises suspicions about why the Solong didn’t see and avoid the Stena Immaculate. Because the investigation is in such an early stage, it’s too soon to draw conclusions about the cause of the collision.

British authorities received a May Day call for assistance from vessels with firefighting equipment and rescue capabilities shortly after the collision. So far, thirty-six crewmembers have been rescued, and despite several injuries no fatalities have been reported. 

All but one crewmember from both ships have been accounted for by rescuers. According to the Independent newspaper, two British maritime security officials said they had not found any evidence of foul play. 

Because of the cargo contained on both ships, oil on the tanker and toxic chemicals on the cargo ship, local authorities are concerned about the potential for environmental damage. How much oil or toxic chemicals, if any, that were released into the North Sea has not yet been determined. But it’s likely some spillage occurred. 

Since the Stena Immaculate was carrying fuel for the U.S. military, it’s likely both American and British authorities will investigate the possibility that the ship was intentionally targeted. Visual imagery showed what appeared to be the oil tanker completely engulfed in flames, raising the likelihood that ship will be a total loss. 

A company spokesman said, “The Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated containers and it is unclear what volume of fuel may have been released.” 

How it Affects You

According to the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act of 1995, Britian will be responsible for most of the clean up costs. The owners of the ships and their insurers may also be required to pay a portion of the expenses. 

There are many possible causes of the collision, including human error, mechanical or equipment failure, bad weather, poor visibility and intentional action. 

A full investigation will likely determine which of those factors were at play.