The incident raises questions about maritime safety as investigations into crew actions continue.
Captain of Container Ship Involved in North Sea Collision is Russian National
Captain of Container Ship Involved in North Sea Collision is Russian National
A Russian citizen has been detained in the UK for gross negligence after his ship crashed into a U.S. Navy-operated tanker in the North Sea.
The captain of the Solong container ship, which collided with the U.S. Navy-operated oil tanker Stena Immaculate on Monday, has been identified as a Russian national by the owning company, Ernst Russ. Following the incident, he was arrested in northern England on charges of gross negligence manslaughter, as one crew member is currently missing and believed to be deceased. Both vessels were forced to abandon ship following the crash.
Although experts have not linked the captain’s Russian nationality to the incident, it is noteworthy that Russians account for about 10% of the global maritime workforce, as stated by the International Chamber of Shipping.
In a statement, Ernst Russ confirmed the detainment of the captain and clarified that the crew comprised both Russian and Filipino nationals. They expressed their commitment to cooperating fully with the ongoing investigations.
The collision occurred approximately 13 nautical miles off the northeastern coast of England, igniting explosions and resulting in significant fire on both ships as black smoke billowed into the sky. The nature of the accident has led to questions regarding why the crash occurred during daylight hours while the tanker was stationary, raising concerns about the efficacy of radar and alert systems.
The investigation is being conducted by Humberside Police, who reported that a 59-year-old suspect had been arrested in connection with the incident. They refrained from disclosing further personal details due to legal protocols.
The Stena Immaculate was carrying jet fuel during the time of the crash and had been contracted for short-term use by the U.S. Navy. British Transportation Minister Mike Kane reassured Parliament that there was no current evidence suggesting foul play, though he acknowledged that “something did go terribly wrong” leading up to the incident. The UK government remains in contact with the American and Portuguese authorities concerning the ongoing investigations.
