North Sea ships had no dedicated lookout, report finds, as images show moment of crash

New images have shown the moment a cargo ship crashed into an oil tanker in the North Sea, with a report finding neither vessel had “dedicated lookouts”.

Portuguese vessel Solong was towed to Aberdeen last month after it crashed into the anchored tanker Stena Immaculate off the East Yorkshire coast on Monday, March 10.

Rescuers saved 36 people from both ships, with one sailor from the Solong – named as Filipino national Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, missing presumed dead.

The Solong’s captain, Vladimir Motin, 59, of St Petersburg, Russia, has appeared at the Old Bailey charged with gross negligence manslaughter and was remanded in custody.

Images show moment cargo ship crashed into oil tanker in North Sea. MAIB/Crowley Government Services

The Solong was still burning a week after it collided with the US fuel tanker, whose crew were praised as “heroic” for triggering a crucial fire-fighting system before abandoning ship.

The cargo ship departed Grangemouth before the collision in the Humber Estuary.

An interim report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) found neither Solong nor Stena Immaculate had a dedicated lookout on the bridge.

The collision breached Stena No.7 port cargo tank, releasing aviation fuel into the sea and ignited by the generate from the force of the collision.

Solong was travelling at a speed of about 16 knots when it hit Stena Immaculate, the MAIB said.

The crews of both abandoned the vessels, with Able seaman Mark Pernia believed to have died in the accident.

Scotland

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Humberside Police have arrested the 59-year-old man after the Stena Immaculate and Solong collided off the coast of Grimsby.

The MAIB said: “The visibility in the area north of the Humber light float was reported to be patchy and varying between 0.25 nautical miles (nm) and 2.0nm.

“Neither Solong nor Stena Immaculate had a dedicated lookout on the bridge.”

The MAIB said its ongoing investigation will analyse “the navigation and watchkeeping practices on board both vessels” and “manning and fatigue management”.

It will also look at the condition and maintenance of the vessels involved, the use of the offshore area as an anchorage for vessels waiting to enter the Humber Estuary, and environmental conditions.