Greenpeace says crash and fuel leak are 'cause for great concern'

Greenpeace UK said it "very closely" monitoring reports of the crash after it was revealed that the oil tanker was carrying jet fuel which is currently leaking into the North Sea.

"Both the high speed of the collision and the footage of the aftermath are cause for great concern," a spokesperson said. "Right now, our thoughts are with all those affected by the incident and the emergency services responding to the situation.

"At this stage, it's too early to assess the extent of any environmental damage."

They added that the speed of the response would be "crucial in limiting any impact".

Stena Immaculate was working for US military during collision

The Stena Immaculate was operating under a US military contract at the time of its collision this morning, its managers confirmed to The Telegraph.

A spokesperson for Crowley, the American company operating the tanker, stated that the vessel was part of the US Government Tanker Security Program. Maritime expert Salvatore Mercogliano explained that the program includes ten US-registered tankers, which receive funding to offset higher costs of US flagging and crews. These ships can be called upon for government fuel transport contracts at short notice.

At least one person had been hospitalized in crash

A least one mariner has been hospitalized after the crash between an oil tanked and a cargo ship.

British lawmaker Graham Stuart, the MP for Beverley and Holderness, said, "The other 36 mariners across both crews are safe and accounted for."

Former admiral says North Sea collision appears to be negligence

Former Rear Admiral Chris Parry described the recent North Sea collision as "highly negligent," pointing to the well-known presence of anchored ships in the area. Speaking to the BBC, Parry noted that the tanker involved was stationary at the time and compared the incident to "driving at speed through a Sainsbury's car park."

He criticized the crew of the Solong, suggesting they ignored navigational sensors and failed to account for surrounding vessels. Parry likened the resulting blaze to a World War II torpedo strike and emphasized that ships in the region should be well aware of the risks.

Hull city council leader expresses concern over incident near Grimsby

Hull City Council leader, Mike Ross, shared his concerns about the impact of a recent incident involving two vessels in the Humber estuary. He told the BBC that local communities were "very concerned" about the consequences of the collision, with numerous calls from people in the Grimsby area already flooding in.

"My thoughts go out to all those involved in this terrible incident," Ross said, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. He added that there was still much to understand, with more details likely to emerge in the coming hours and days. Ross also highlighted the dangerous nature of the Humber estuary, calling it "one of the most dangerous in the world," but expressed relief that one of the ships' crews had already been confirmed safe.

One of ships may have been an anchor which can take an hour to pick up: Marine safety expert

The director of Marine Risk and Safety Consultants Ltd said that one of the ships may have been at anchor at the time of crash.

David McFarlane said that it can take a ship up to an hour to pick up anchor once it's down.

"I've heard that one of the ships was an anchor. If so, there's a possibility it would have picked up its anchor, or was in the process of doing so, we don't know. But it can take up to an hour to pick up anchor."

There have been reports that the Stena Immaculate was nearly stationary during the time of the collision.

Marine safety expert says both ships obliged to do everything they can to avoid collision

The director of Marine Risk and Safety Consultants Ltd, David McFarlane, said that both ships would have been obliged to do everything they could to avoid a crash under international law.

McFarlane said that another ship is visible on radar from as far as 24 miles away, but "you wouldn't get anxious about another ship until it was about 4 miles away, depending on speed."

He added that the ships would have been able to contact each other via very high frequency radio, and if they did not respond, they could fall back on the ship horn which can be heard for miles, he told The Guardian.

Transport secretary expresses concern over North Sea collision

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed concern following a collision between two vessels in the North Sea on Monday morning.

She confirmed she is in contact with officials and HM Coastguard as the situation unfolds.

Alexander also said: "I want to thank all emergency service workers involved for their continued efforts in responding to the incident."

Stena Immaculate part of U.S. tanker security program for military support

The Stena Immaculate was one of several commercial tankers involved in the U.S. Maritime Administration's (MARAD) Tanker Security Program (TSP), launched in 2023 under the Biden administration. The program ensures that a fleet of commercial ships, including Stena Immaculate, are available for U.S. military operations in times of conflict or national emergencies.

Managed by American company Crowley in a joint venture with Swedish owners Stena, the vessel is one of three provided for the program. The TSP helps grow the U.S.-flagged fleet and ensures timely delivery of vital fuel supplies for military missions. It is unclear whether the Stena Immaculate was carrying military fuel during the collision.

Stena Immaculate crew confirmed safe following North Sea collision

Erik Hanell, the chief executive of Stena Bulk, has confirmed that the crew of over 20 on the Stena Immaculate are safe after the collision in the North Sea. Hanell stated it is too early to speculate on the cause of the crash.

Stena Bulk jointly owns the vessel with their U.S. partner Crowley, who operates it. The safety of the crew on the cargo ship involved in the incident has not yet been confirmed.

Marine Accident Investigation Branch begins assessment after North Sea collision

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has deployed a team to Grimsby following this morning's collision between the container ship Solong and the oil tanker Stena Immaculate.

A spokesperson for the MAIB confirmed that inspectors and support staff are gathering evidence and conducting a preliminary assessment of the incident. The team is focused on determining the next steps in the investigation into the crash in the North Sea.

Port of Grimsby East CEO describes aftermath of collision, casualties unclear

Martyn Boyers, the CEO of the Port of Grimsby East, provided more details following the North Sea collision between an oil tanker and a cargo vessel. Boyers reported that witnesses saw a "massive fireball" after the crash, but noted that the ships were too far from shore for visual confirmation.

He added that vessels have been bringing casualties ashore, and a mayday call was likely issued. Boyers mentioned the presence of a crew transfer vessel, which helped facilitate the rescue operation, followed by a flotilla of ambulances to retrieve any survivors. The condition of those injured remains unknown.

UK Coastguard assessing potential pollution response after North Sea collision

The UK Coastguard is currently assessing the "likely" counter-pollution response needed following the collision between an oil tanker and a cargo ship in the North Sea.

A Coastguard spokesperson confirmed to BBC that the incident remains ongoing, and the assessment for potential pollution control measures is underway as the situation on the east coast of England continues to unfold.

Ship tracking data reveals collision details between Stena Immaculate and Solong

Ship tracking data from MarineTraffic indicates a stark contrast in the movement of the two vessels involved in the collision off the coast of Hull. The Stena Immaculate, which had traveled from the Greek port of Agioi Theodoroi, was drifting at a slow speed of 0.1 knots at the time of the incident at 09:48 GMT.

Meanwhile, the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong, en route from Grangemouth, Scotland, to Rotterdam, Netherlands, was traveling at a significantly faster pace of 16 knots when it approached from the north.

The cause of the collision remains unclear, and investigations are ongoing.

32 rescued after collision between oil tanker and cargo vessel near Hull

A collision between an oil tanker and a cargo vessel in the North Sea near Hull has led to the rescue of 32 people, according to a port official. All crew members aboard the oil tanker, Stena Immaculate, have been confirmed safe and accounted for by the shipping company.

The incident, which occurred at 9:48 GMT, saw the U.S.-flagged Stena Immaculate struck by the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong while at anchor. Thick black smoke was seen billowing from the tanker, with some reports describing a "massive fireball."

Lifeboats and firefighting teams quickly responded to the scene, and a coastguard rescue operation was initiated to ensure further safety. Authorities are continuing to coordinate the emergency response.