The burnt wreckage of a ship that collided with a tanker in the North Sea arrived at a Scottish port on March 28. The incident involved the Portuguese-flagged Solong crashing into the U.S. military-contracted tanker Stena Immaculate, resulting in a fire and evacuation of both crews. Fortunately, most crew members were rescued, but one tragically lost his life.
A maritime accident involving the U.S.-flagged chemical tanker Stena Immaculate and the Portuguese-flagged container vessel Solong off the coast of Britain has raised concerns. The collision, on March 10, 2025, caused significant damage and both ships were still burning the next day. Investigators are looking into the cause, with one sailor suspected to be deceased.
The North Sea incident continues to unfold, with one seafarer arrested for gross negligence manslaughter. The missing crew member of the “Solong” vessel is presumed deceased, while survivors receive support. Investigations by the MAIB and Humberside Police are ongoing, with collaboration from US and Portuguese authorities to determine the cause of the collision.
The International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds) recently addressed the collision between the Solong and Stena Immaculate in the UK. The incident, involving a tanker carrying jet fuel, is not covered by the 1992 Conventions. The IOPC Funds cannot intervene due to the non-persistent oil classification.
