Captain of Solong cargo ship involved in North Sea crash is Russian, company says

Key Points

Captain arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the crash is Russian national, company says
Coastguard said a missing crew member from Solong has not been found after an ‘extensive search’
Solong ‘failed steering-related safety checks’ last year
The Stena Immaculate oil tanker and the Solong cargo ship crashed early on Monday
More than 30 casualties were brought ashore after the crash in the North Sea

The captain of a cargo ship which left Grangemouth arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after it collided with an oil tanker in the North Sea is a Russian national, the vessel’s owner says.

Humberside Police have taken a 59-year-old male into custody after the Stena Immaculate and Solong collided off the coast of Grimsby.

The company which owns the ship, Ernest Russ, said that the man is the master of the containership Solong and a Russian national.

A spokesperson from the Hamburg-based company said: “Ernest Russ can confirm that the master of the containership SOLONG has been detained by Humberside police in the UK.

“The master and our entire team are actively assisting with the investigations. Out of respect for the investigation and all involved we will not comment further at this time.”

The search for a missing crew member from the cargo ship has been called off as vessels involved burned through the night.

Senior Investigating Officer, detective chief superintendent Craig Nicholson said: “Humberside Police have taken primacy for the investigation of any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision between the two vessels.

“Extensive work has already been carried out, and we are working closely with our partners to understand what happened, and to provide support to all of those affected.

“Following enquiries undertaken by my team, we have arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision, this follows the conclusion of search operations by HM Coastguard for the missing crew member of the Solong.

“Our thoughts are with the family of the missing crew member, and I have appointed family liaison officers to make contact and provide support to the family.

“The man arrested remains in custody at this time whilst enquiries are underway, and we continue speaking with all those involved to establish the full circumstances of the incident.”

In a statement, HM Coastguard said the missing person from the Solong container ship had not been found after “an extensive search”, following the ship’s collision with the Stena Immaculate tanker off the coast of East Yorkshire on Monday morning.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Solong was still alight and had drifted away from the original site of the collision while the fire on board the Stena Immaculate had greatly diminished.

More than 30 casualties were brought ashore after the crash in the North Sea.

Footage showed clouds of black smoke billowing into the air after the collision off the coast of East Yorkshire on Monday morning.

Solong owner Ernst Russ said the ship has “no containers on board ladened with sodium cyanide”, after reports circulated that the ship was transporting the chemical.

Port state control (PSC) inspection documents from July last year show Irish officials deemed Solong’s “emergency steering position communications/compass reading” was “not readable”.

This was among 10 deficiencies highlighted during the inspection of the Portuguese vessel in Dublin.

Other issues include alarms being “inadequate”, survival craft “not properly maintained”, and fire doors “not as required”.

A statement said: “We extend our deepest sympathy to the family of the missing crew member, mindful that the search has been called off. Our first thoughts must be with them at this uncertain and distressing time. All necessary support is being provided to the family.

“We continue to follow the situation closely surrounding this collision incident involving our vessel, Solong in the North Sea, off Hull, UK. Our focus remains the well-being of our 13 crew members that were evacuated from the container ship. We also recognise the dangers that others are faced with as they work to stabilise and secure the vessels and cargos involved.

“We are able to confirm that there are no containers on board ladened with sodium cyanide, as has been misreported. There are four empty containers that have previously contained the hazardous chemical, and these containers will continue to be monitored

“We would like to thank all of the emergency responders who have urgently deployed to the scene in support of this response effort.

“Our team is actively engaged with all local authorities, and we will work with clean-up teams to ensure every effort is made to mitigate further impacts on the marine environment.

“Ernst Russ will fully assist with the investigations that are to follow.”

Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, HM Coastguard said: “Air quality at ground level has also been deemed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs as “within normal levels for the weather conditions.

The Solong is still alight and the fire on board the Stena Immaculate has greatly diminished.

“Safety vessels and other vessels with firefighting capabilities are still on scene, with more arriving today.

“At 11.20pm last night the Solong separated from the Stena Immaculate and began to drift southwards, this is being monitored by HM Coastguard. An exclusion zone of 1km radius has been put in place around both vessels.

“The Counter Pollution and Salvage Team is assessing the situation and is developing a plan ready for implementation as soon as the situation allows.

“The SOSREP is working with ship owners, salvors and insurance companies.

“The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is monitoring the situation closely and has confirmed that air quality at ground level is currently within normal levels for the weather conditions.

“The UK Health Security Agency (HSA) is also assisting in the response, and has advised that any public health risk on shore is currently deemed to be very low.

“HSA risk assessments are under continual review as further information becomes available.”

A statement from Crowley, which manages the oil tanker, read: “At approximately 10am on March 10, 2025, while anchored off the North Sea coast near Hull, United Kingdom, the Crowley-managed tanker Stena Immaculate was struck by the container ship Solong.

“The Stena Immaculate sustained a ruptured cargo tank containing Jet-A1 fuel due to the allision. A fire occurred as a result of the allision, and fuel was reportedly released.

“The Stena Immaculate crew abandoned the vessel following multiple explosions onboard. All Crowley mariners are safe and fully accounted for.

“Crowley immediately initiated its emergency vessel response plan and is actively working with public agencies to contain the fire and secure the vessel.

“Our first priority is the safety of the people and environment. We will provide more updates as information becomes available.”

A spokesperson for Forth Ports said: “We confirm that the Solong container vessel sailed out of the Port of Grangemouth at 10.52pm on Sunday, March 9, heading for Rotterdam.

“Separately, the Camperdown tug, which is part of Forth Ports’ Targe Towing operation has been despatched to provide support if required.”

Lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter were called to the collision in the Humber Estuary on Monday morning, involving a US-flagged tanker called the MV Stena Immaculate.

The American tanker was at anchor, according to ship tracking tool Vesselfinder, and was carrying Jet A1 fuel and caught fire.

Cargo ship the Solong is a Portuguese-flagged vessel that departed from Grangemouth on Sunday.

A spokesperson said: “The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has deployed a team to Grimsby following the collision of the Portuguese-registered container ship Solong and the US-registered oil tanker Stena Immaculate which collided in the North Sea this morning.

“Our team of inspectors and support staff are gathering evidence and undertaking a preliminary assessment of the accident to determine our next steps.”