March 11, 2025 | North Sea, UK
A large-scale rescue operation is underway following a collision between an oil tanker and a cargo ship in the North Sea on Monday, which resulted in a massive fire and left 32 people injured. The incident occurred approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers) off the coast of East Yorkshire, prompting an immediate emergency response.
According to the Grimsby port director, Martyn Boyers, the injured were brought ashore in three vessels, where ambulances were lined up at the quay to provide medical assistance. The UK Coastguard is leading the operation after receiving reports of the collision early in the morning. A spokesperson confirmed that an assessment of potential counter-pollution measures is also being conducted.
Dramatic images broadcast on UK television showed thick black smoke and flames rising from the collision site. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) confirmed that there were fires on both ships and reported that several crew members had abandoned the vessels. Multiple lifeboats, a Coastguard helicopter, aircraft, and nearby ships with firefighting capabilities have been deployed to the area.
The collision was reported at 09:48 GMT near the port city of Hull. The oil tanker involved in the crash was identified as the Stena Immaculate, owned by the Swedish company Stena Bulk and operated by US-based maritime company Crowley. The vessel, loaded with petroleum products, had traveled from Greece and was near its destination at the port of Immingham. The cargo ship, identified as the Portuguese-flagged Solong, is owned by German company Reederei Koepping.
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed her concern over the incident, stating that she is closely monitoring the situation alongside officials and HM Coastguard. She also extended her gratitude to the emergency teams working tirelessly at the scene.
While collisions at sea are rare, the North Sea has witnessed similar accidents. In October 2023, two cargo ships, the Verity and the Polesie, collided near Germany’s Heligoland islands, leading to three deaths and two missing crew members. In 2015, the Flinterstar freighter sank after a collision with the Al Oraiq tanker off the Belgian coast.
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