North Sea collision latest: Dozens of casualties after ‘massive fireball’ rips through Stena Immaculate tanker

More than 30 casualties have been brought ashore after an oil tanker collided with a cargo vessel in the North Sea, causing a “massive fireball”.

The condition of those injured remains unclear with lifeguards and a coastguard helicopter scrambling to the scene following reports that a “number of people” had abandoned both ships.

The collision occurred in the Humber Estuary on Monday morning with the alarm first raised at 9.48am. The incident is believed to involve a US-flagged tanker called the MV Stena Immaculate, which is understood to have been carrying aviation fuel.

The chief executive of Stena Immaculate has confirmed to the BBC that all crew have been accounted for and are safe.

According to the ship tracking tool Vesselfinder, the American tanker was at anchor when it collided with the Portugese-flagged ship MV Solong.

A HM Coastguard spokesperson said: “HM Coastguard is currently co-ordinating the emergency response to reports of a collision between a tanker and cargo vessel off the coast of East Yorkshire.

“The alarm was raised at 9.48am.

“A Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Humberside was called, alongside lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Maplethorpe and Cleethorpes, an HM Coastguard fixed wing aircraft, and nearby vessels with fire-fighting capability.

“The incident remains ongoing.”

Key Points

• Number of casualties increases to 32

• Ships named as oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate and cargo ship MV Solong

• ‘Number of people’ had abandoned vessels

• Mapped: Where did the ships collide?

• Stena Immaculate carrying aviation fuel

• Tanker and cargo vessel collide

New pictures show Stena Immaculate engulfed in flames

14:34 , Jabed Ahmed

All 32 casualties brought in alive, says port chief

14:24 , Holly Evans

Speaking to Sky News, the chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East said that all 32 casualties were brought in alive.

Martin Boyers said that he was told to be on standby at around 11am to receive casualties, and that the first boat arrived with 13 people on board.

“We were put on standby around about 11 o’clock to receive casualties – not knowing what condition they were in,” he said.

He continued: “There was a line of ambulances waiting to take them to the Princess Diana hospital.

“They were alive. We didn’t see [more] the area was sectioned off by police. I do know that they were all alive.”

What do we know about both ships?

14:16 , Holly Evans

It’s understood that the MV Stena Immaculate had travelled from the Greek port of Agioi Theodoroi, and was anchored outside Hull.

It is part of a programme by the US Department of Defence and the US Maritime Administration which is capable of transporting oil for the US army in “times of need”.

The 461ft Portuguese-flagged Solong had been sailing from the Scottish port of Grangemouth to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.

It was built in 2005 and has the capacity to carry 9,500 tonnes and is thought to be carrying out commercial goods.

The 600ft Stena Immaculate was constructed in 2017, according to the website Martime Optima, and weighs nearly 50,000 tonnes.

Accident investigators arrive to gather evidence

14:00 , Holly Evans

Accident investigators have arrived at the scene in Grimsby to begin gathering evidence as the incident remains ongoing.

A spokesperson for the Marine Accident Investigation Branch said: “The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has deployed a team to Grimsby following the collision of the Portuguese registered container ship Solong and the US registered oil tanker Stena Immaculate which collided in the North Sea this morning.

“Our team of inspectors and support staff are gathering evidence and undertaking a preliminary assessment of the accident to determine our next steps.”

All Stena Immaculate crew accounted for and safe

13:56 , Holly Evans

The BBC has reported that the chief executive Stena Bulk, Erik Hanell, has confirmed that all the crew of the oil tanker the MV Stena Immaculate have been accounted for and are safe.

More than 20 people have reportedly been brought to shore.

Mr Hanell also said it was too early to speculate on the cause of the collision.

Coastguard assessing pollution damage after collision

13:53 , Holly Evans

The collision between the oil tanker and the cargo ship has prompted concerns of an environmental disaster, with the Coastguard stating they are carrying out an assessment of the likely counter pollution response.

In a statement they said: “HM Coastguard is currently co-ordinating the emergency response to reports of a collision between a tanker and cargo vessel off the coast of East Yorkshire resulting in fires aboard both vessels. The alarm was raised at 9.48am.

“A Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Humberside was called, alongside lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Maplethorpe and Cleethorpes, an HM Coastguard fixed wing aircraft, and nearby vessels with fire-fighting capability.

“The incident remains ongoing and an assessment of the likely counter pollution response required is being enacted.”

Transport secretary ‘concerned’ to hear of collision

13:43 , Holly Evans

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “I’m concerned to hear of the collision between two vessels in the North Sea this morning and am liaising with officials and HM Coastguard as the situation develops.

“I want to thank all emergency service workers involved for their continued efforts in responding to the incident.”

Number of casualties increases to 32

13:38 , Holly Evans

Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, said a further nine casualties have been brought ashore aboard a harbour pilot vessel taking the total number to 32.

More than 20 casualties after oil tanker and cargo ship collide

13:34 , Holly Evans

More than 20 casualties have been brought ashore at Grimsby following a collision between a tanker and a cargo ship in the North Sea, but some crew members are yet to be accounted for, a port boss has said.

Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, said 13 casualties were initially brought in on a Windcat 33 vessel, followed by another 10 on a harbour pilot boat.

Mr Boyers said he had been told there was “a massive fireball”, adding: “It’s too far out for us to see – about 10 miles – but we have seen the vessels bringing them in.

“They must have sent a mayday out – luckily there was a crew transfer vessel out there already.

“Since then there has been a flotilla of ambulances to pick up anyone they can find.”

The casualties’ conditions remain unclear.

Full statement from the RNLI

13:29 , Holly Evans

Here is the full statement from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution: !Four lifeboat crews have been called to an incident off the East Yorkshire coast this morning (Monday 10 March).

“At 10.20am, HM Coastguard tasked Bridlington, Cleethorpes, Mablethorpe and Skegness lifeboats to support their response to two vessels that were reported to have been in collision with each other.

“There were reports that a number of people had abandoned the vessels following a collision and there were fires on both ships.

“By 11.40am, Cleethorpes had been stood down while Bridlington, Mablethorpe and Skegness continued to support search and rescue efforts.

“The incident is ongoing with the RNLI and HM Coastguard working together.”

‘Number of people’ had abandoned vessels

13:24

According to the RNLI, four lifeboats were sent to the scene and there have been reports “a number of people had abandoned the vessels”.

In a statement published by the BBC, the group said in a statement they responded at 10.20am this morning.

“There were reports that a number of people had abandoned the vessels following a collision and there were fires on both ships,” the group added.

By 11.40am, one lifeboat was stood down as the other three continued to “support search and rescue efforts”.

Fog and misty conditions predicated for Humber area

13:13 , Holly Evans

The Met Office had warned of fog and misty conditions in the Humber area ahead of the collision, with wind gusts of 25mph predicted on Monday morning.

“Areas of fog and low cloud lifting as winds increase through the morning, with some warm, if rather hazy sunny spells expected in places for a time,” said the weather agency in its forecast for Yorkshire and Humber.

“Thicker cloud and a little rain moving southwards during the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14C.”

Stena Immaculate carrying aviation fuel

13:00 , Jabed Ahmed

The burning Stena Immaculate is carrying Jet A1 aviation fuel, according to the audio alert sent by the coastguard.

The vessel was built in 2017 and its length overall is 183 metres.

Video shows oil tanker on fire

12:53 , Jabed Ahmed

Audio of coastguards call

12:51 , Jabed Ahmed

Local MP says reports of collision are ‘very concerning’

12:50 , Jabed Ahmed

Charlie Dewhirst, MP for Bridlington, has said the reports of the collision are “very concerning”.

In a post on X, he said: “Very concerning reports from the North Sea following an incident off the Holderness coast. Thoughts are with the crews and all those involved in the rescue operation, including a number from Bridlington.”

Mapped | Where did the ships collide?

12:42 , Jabed Ahmed

Pictured | MV Solong container ship

12:41 , Jabed Ahmed

Video | Marine traffic shows moment oil tanker collides with cargo vessel in North Sea off East Yorkshire coast

12:38 , Jabed Ahmed

Pictured: MV Stena Immaculate

12:32 , Jabed Ahmed

Ships involved in collision named

12:27 , Jabed Ahmed

Oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate on fire after being struck by container ship MV Solong.

The picture below shows Solong on course to hit Stena Immaculate around two hours ago.

Oil tanker on fire – reports

12:19 , Jabed Ahmed

The BBC have reported the oil tanker involved in the collision is on fire, according to sources with knowledge of the incident.

Nearby vessels with firefighting capbilities have been deployed, the coastguard said.

Tanker and cargo vessel collide

12:15 , Jabed Ahmed

A tanker and a cargo vessel have collided in the North Sea, the Coastguard said.

An HM Coastguard spokesperson said: “HM Coastguard is currently co-ordinating the emergency response to reports of a collision between a tanker and cargo vessel off the coast of East Yorkshire.

“The alarm was raised at 9.48am.

“A Coastguard rescue helicopter from Humberside was called, alongside lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Maplethorpe and Cleethorpes, an HM Coastguard fixed wing aircraft, and nearby vessels with fire-fighting capability.

“The incident remains ongoing.”