Grimsby, UK – March 11, 2025 – A 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter following a catastrophic collision between a cargo ship and an anchored oil tanker in the North Sea on Monday, March 10, 2025. Humberside Police announced the arrest on Tuesday as part of a criminal investigation into the incident, which left one crew member missing and presumed dead, raising serious concerns about maritime safety and environmental impact off the East Yorkshire coast.
The collision occurred at approximately 9:48 a.m. GMT, roughly 10 miles east of Withernsea, when the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship MV Solong struck the stationary U.S.-flagged oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate. The Stena Immaculate, managed by Crowley and chartered to the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command, was anchored near the Humber Estuary, carrying 220,000 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks. At least one tank ruptured upon impact, triggering multiple explosions and setting both vessels ablaze. The Solong, operated by German firm Ernst Russ, was en route from Grangemouth, Scotland, to Rotterdam, Netherlands, when the incident occurred.
Humberside Police Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson, the senior investigating officer, confirmed the arrest in a statement: “Following inquiries 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.” The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, remains in custody as inquiries continue. Nicholson added, “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” (Humberside Police, cited in BBC News, March 11, 2025).
The Solong carried 14 crew members, 13 of whom were rescued, while one remains unaccounted for. U.K. Aviation, Maritime, and Security Minister Mike Kane told the House of Commons on Tuesday that the missing sailor is presumed deceased, stating, “Our working assumption is that, very sadly, that the sailor is deceased” (Sky News, March 11, 2025). An extensive search operation, involving HM Coastguard helicopters, a fixed-wing aircraft, and RNLI lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe, and Cleethorpes, was called off at 9:40 p.m. on Monday after failing to locate the individual (BBC News, March 11, 2025). Meanwhile, all 23 crew members of the Stena Immaculate safely evacuated the vessel, with one reportedly hospitalized (The Guardian, March 10, 2025).
The cause of the collision remains under investigation, with early reports suggesting poor visibility due to thick fog as a potential factor. Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, told Sky News that the area was “very foggy” on Monday morning, a claim supported by a rescuer who described conditions as so dense that crews “could not see a thing” (The Times, cited in BBC News, March 11, 2025). A crew member from the Stena Immaculate recounted to CBS News that the Solong “came from out of the blue,” suggesting no one was on its bridge at the time of impact (Sky News, March 11, 2025). Ship tracking data from MarineTraffic indicates the Stena Immaculate was drifting at 0.1 knots when struck, while the Solong was moving at approximately 16 knots (18 mph) (BBC News, March 11, 2025).
The aftermath of the collision has sparked fears of an environmental disaster. The Stena Immaculate’s ruptured tank has leaked an unknown quantity of jet fuel into the North Sea, though experts note that its high boiling point means it evaporates more slowly than crude oil, potentially mitigating some ecological damage (BBC News, March 11, 2025). Initial reports suggested the Solong was carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide, a highly toxic chemical, but Ernst Russ clarified on Tuesday that while four empty containers had previously held the substance, none were laden with it at the time of the crash. “There are no containers on board ladened with sodium cyanide, as has been misreported,” the company stated, adding that the empty containers would continue to be monitored (Sky News, March 11, 2025). The U.K. Health Security Agency has assessed the public health risk onshore as “very low,” with air quality remaining within normal levels (BBC News, March 11, 2025).
As of Tuesday morning, the Solong remains ablaze and is drifting southwards, shadowed by two tugboats to keep it clear of the coast. HM Coastguard reports that the fire on the Stena Immaculate has “greatly diminished,” but the Solong is unlikely to remain afloat, according to Minister Kane: “The assessment of His Majesty’s Coastguard is that it is unlikely the vessel will remain afloat” (The Telegraph, March 11, 2025). A 1-kilometer exclusion zone has been established around both vessels, with safety and firefighting vessels on scene (BBC News, March 11, 2025).
Humberside Police are collaborating with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), which has deployed a team to Grimsby for a preliminary assessment (The Guardian, March 11, 2025). The incident has drawn international attention, with a German Navy Dornier Do-228 surveillance aircraft dispatched to monitor potential pollution (The Telegraph, March 11, 2025). Greenpeace U.K. and marine experts have expressed concern over the ecological impact near fishing grounds and seabird colonies, though the full extent remains unclear (AP News, March 10, 2025).
This collision marks a rare but severe incident in the busy North Sea shipping lanes, recalling past events like the 2023 Verity and Polesie crash near Germany’s Heligoland islands, which claimed three lives (Daily Mail, March 11, 2025). As investigations proceed, authorities and the public alike await answers on what led to this deadly encounter and how to prevent future tragedies.
Sources:
BBC News, “Tanker collision latest: Man, 59, arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter over North Sea collision,” March 11, 2025.
Sky News, “Everything you need to know about North Sea cargo ship and tanker collision,” March 11, 2025.
The Guardian, “North Sea collision: man arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter,” March 11, 2025.
The Telegraph, “Oil tanker collision latest: Man arrested for negligent manslaughter over North Sea crash,” March 11, 2025.
AP News, “A cargo ship hits a tanker and they catch fire off England,” March 10, 2025.
Daily Mail, “Police arrest man, 59, for manslaughter over fuel tanker smash in North Sea,” March 11, 2025.
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