Search called off for missing crew member after North Sea oil tanker crash

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A cargo ship from Grangemouth has collided with an American oil tanker
Search called off for missing crew member
32 casualties have been brought ashore and 13 out of 14 crew members brought ashore
The Stena Immaculate oil tanker sustained a ruptured cargo tank after it was struck by container ship Solong
The Camperdown tug has been despatched from Aberdeen to provide support
Lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter were called to the collision in the Humber Estuary on Monday morning
Video shows fire and smoke billowing from the vessels

The search for a missing crew member from a cargo ship that crashed into an oil tanker in the North Sea has been called off, the coastguard said.

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.

Matthew Atkinson, divisional commander for HM Coastguard, said: “HM Coastguard has been co-ordinating the response to an incident reported at 9.48am this morning (10 March).

“36 crew members were taken safely to shore, one person was taken to hospital. One crew member of the SOLONG remains unaccounted for, after an extensive search for the missing crew member, sadly they have not been found and the search has ended.

“The two vessels remain on fire and coastguard aircraft are monitoring the situation.

“An assessment of any required counter pollution response is being carried out by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

“The Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention is working with the salvors and insurance companies.”

More than 30 casualties were brought ashore after a crash between an oil tanker and a cargo ship in the North Sea.

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

Shipping company Ernst Russ had said earlier on Monday evening that efforts to locate one of the 14 crew members aboard its Solong container ship were “ongoing”.

The statement read: “Both vessels have sustained significant damage in the impact of the collision and the subsequent fire.

“13 of the 14 Solong crew members have been brought safely shore. Efforts to locate the missing crew member are ongoing.

“Ernst Russ immediately activated an emergency response team, and the company remains in contact with them, the Master of Solong and all relevant marine authorities at Humberside.

“The first priority is the safety of the crew(s), all responders and the environment.

“A further update will be provided when 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.”

Black smoke billowing into the air after a crash between an oil tanker and a cargo ship off the coast of East Yorkshire. Handout/Bartek Smialek

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.

The Stena Immaculate oil tanker sustained a ruptured cargo tank after it was struck by container ship Solong in the North Sea today, causing “multiple explosions” and jet fuel to be released into the water, the ship’s management firm Crowley said.

Lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter were called to the collision in the Humber Estuary just before 10am. Handout/Bartek Smialek

Both vessels were forced to abandon.

Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, said 13 casualties were initially brought in on a Windcat 33 vessel, followed by another 10 on a harbour pilot boat and nine on another pilot’s vessel.

Mr Boyers said he had been told there was “a massive fireball”, adding: “It’s too far out for us to see – about ten miles – but we have seen the vessels bringing them in.

“They must have sent a mayday out – luckily there was a crew transfer vessel out there already.

“Since then there has been a flotilla of ambulances to pick up anyone they can find.”

The casualties’ conditions remain unclear.

UK transport secretary Heidi Alexander said: “I’m concerned to hear of the collision between two vessels in the North Sea this morning and am liaising with officials and HM Coastguard as the situation develops.

“I want to thank all emergency service workers involved for their continued efforts in responding to the incident.”The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has sent investigators to Grimsby following the crash between two vessels in the North Sea.

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.”

A HM Coastguard spokesperson said: “HM Coastguard is currently co-ordinating the emergency response to reports of a collision between a tanker and cargo vessel off the coast of East Yorkshire.

“The alarm was raised at 9.48am.

“A Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Humberside was called, alongside lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Maplethorpe and Cleethorpes, an HM Coastguard fixed wing aircraft, and nearby vessels with fire-fighting capability.

“The incident remains ongoing.”