Cover image: ©AFP via the BBC
Authorities have arrested a man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter following a ship collision in the North Sea.
The collision occurred on 10 March 2025, involving the Stena Immaculate oil tanker and the Solong cargo ship, off the coast of East Yorkshire.
Humberside Police have confirmed the arrest of a 59-year-old man, who is currently in custody. The individual, later identified as the captain of the Solong, is assisting investigators.
The owner of the Solong cargo ship, German firm Ernst Russ, has confirmed to the BBC that the man arrested by Humberside police is the master of the ship.
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The collision resulted in a tragic fatality, with one crew member of the Solong reported missing and presumed dead after search operations by HM Coastguard were concluded.
A criminal probe into the cause of the collision has been launched, with Humberside Police working alongside the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), reported the BBC.
“The man arrested remains in custody at this time whilst enquiries are under way, and we continue speaking with all those involved to establish the full circumstances of the incident,” said Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson from Humberside Police.
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As of the latest updates, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency confirmed that both ships are expected to stay afloat: “There is no evidence of pollution in the water or in the air to date,” said Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness.
The BBC also reported that shipping operations at the Associated British Ports (ABP) in Hull, Immingham, Goole, and Grimsby resumed with restrictions by the evening, after being temporarily halted.
