A tragic maritime collision in the North Sea, under what investigators have described as ‘sporadic visibility’, is being blamed on an alarming lack of dedicated lookout aboard the two vessels involved. The calamity ensued when the Portuguese-registered container ship Solong, collided with the anchored US tanker Stena Immaculate, a collision that resulted in a significant inferno on both vessels. The incident occurred around noon on March 10, 12 miles off the East Yorkshire coast and sadly one soul is presumed lost. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch’s initial report revealed an absence of a dedicated lookout on both Solong and Stena Immaculate. A lookout’s duty is crucial for maintaining a constant vigil of the seaways, while a watchkeeper ensures the vessel’s safe navigation. The report also highlighted that immediate action was taken by crews from both ships following the incident, however, their efforts were impeded by the severity of the flames. A total of 36 individuals were rescued from the scene, but tragically a 38-year-old Filipino seaman from Solong remains missing. The investigation by the MAIB is ongoing, focusing on several areas including navigation and watchkeeping practices, manning, fatigue management, and the state and upkeep of the vessels involved. The incident’s aftermath saw thousands of plastic pellets, or nurdles, littering east coast beaches after spilling from ruptured containers on Solong. While not toxic, these nurdles can prove harmful if ingested by wildlife. The ships’ current status sees Solong berthed in Aberdeen after being towed on March 28, while Stena Immaculate is expected to be towed to Newcastle in early April, as announced by managing company Crowley.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
