30 injured, jet fuel spills in tanker collision near England coast

• Published On: 10 March 2025 at 20:26

On Monday, two ships collided off the eastern coast of England near the port of Grimsby. The U.S.-flagged tanker MV Stena Immaculate was carrying jet fuel from Greece, and the Portugal-flagged container ship Solong was en route from Scotland to the Netherlands.

According to lawmaker Graham Stuart, all 37 crew members on both ships have been accounted for, with one hospitalised.

The impact ruptured a cargo tank on the Stena Immaculate, releasing Jet-A1 fuel into the sea and sparking a fire with multiple explosions, according to Crowley, the tanker's US-based operator.

All 23 crew members on the tanker were confirmed safe.

According to Martyn Boyers, Chief Executive of the Port of Grimsby East, emergency services launched a major rescue effort, with the Windcat 33 high-speed vessel bringing 13 casualties to shore and a harbour pilot boat rescuing 19 others.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency of the United Kingdom sent out lifeboats, a rescue helicopter, and a coast guard plane, and a mayday call prompted other vessels with firefighting equipment to respond.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution reported that some crew members abandoned their ships as fires raged. The BBC aired footage of thick black smoke billowing from both vessels.

Graham Stuart confirmed that the transport secretary had assured him that rescue efforts were moving quickly.

Heidi Alexander, the United Kingdom's Transport Secretary, thanked emergency responders for their "continued efforts," emphasising the government's commitment to monitoring the situation.

The collision site, about 10 miles off the coast near Hull — 155 miles north of London — is being closely monitored as authorities work to contain the fire and assess environmental risks.