North Sea collision – latest: Missing sailor presumed dead and cargo ship likely to sink, minister says

Minister Mike Kane, addressing the cargo on the vessels, informed the Commons: “The MV Stena was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet gas, which was the supply of the hearth.”

Mr Kane stated work is ongoing to find out what cargo the MV Solong was carrying, including: “I’m conscious of media reporting relating to potential hazardous supplies on board however we’re unable to substantiate right now.

“Nonetheless, counter-pollution measures and belongings are already in place and each vessels are being intently monitored for structural integrity.”

The Marine Accident Investigation Department has been deployed to the positioning and begun its investigation, MPs heard.

Transport minister Mike Kane stated the hearth on the Stena Immaculate “seems to be extinguished however the Solong continues to burn”.

He informed MPs: “Though they turned hooked up to one another throughout the collision, the Solong broke freed from the Stena Immaculate late final night time and started drifting southwards.

“Modelling suggests that ought to the Solong stay afloat it’ll stay away from land for the following few hours. The evaluation of His Majesty’s Coastguard is, nevertheless, that it’s unlikely the vessel will stay afloat.

“Tugboats are within the neighborhood to make sure that the Solong stays away from the coast and to reply because the scenario develops.

“I need to be clear that whereas there are 1,000-metre non permanent exclusion zones established round each vessels, maritime visitors via the Humber Estuary is constant.”

One crew member on board a cargo ship concerned within the collision within the North Sea has been presumed lifeless, transport minister Mike Kane informed the Home of Commons.

The sailor, who was engaged on board the Solong, stays lacking after the collision over the weekend and the search and rescue operation has now been referred to as off, Mr Kane stated.

The total crew of the opposite ship concerned, the Stena Immaculate, have been accounted for and at the moment are on shore.

Mr Kane informed the Commons: “Search and rescue operations for the lacking sailor continued all through yesterday however have been referred to as off yesterday night on the level at which the possibilities of their survival had sadly considerably diminished.

“Our working assumption is that very sadly, that the sailor is deceased.

“The Coast Guard has knowledgeable the corporate, and so they have been suggested to tell the following of kin. Our ideas are with the sailor’s family members right now.”

Transport minister Mike Kane has praised the efforts of responders on the scene on the North Sea collision, saying they’re each “courageous and massively appreciated”.

Giving an announcement on the continuing scenario within the Commons, Mr Kane additionally supplied his due to all these concerned in firefighting and search and rescue operations.

“I need to start by providing my honest due to all those that are responding on the entrance line, from its Majesty’s Coast Guard to native emergency providers”, he informed the Commons.

“It is a difficult scenario, and I do know I communicate for everybody on this home after I say that the responders ongoing efforts are each courageous and massively appreciated.

He additionally thanked worldwide companions for his or her “many gives of help to the UK”.

Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman stated: “We’re working urgently with the Maritime and Coastguard Company to evaluate the potential environmental impacts and mitigations.

“A short lived exclusion zone has been established across the ships to cut back the danger to the broader delivery trade within the space.

“We’re working as rapidly as doable to evaluate the influence of the incident on water air pollution and the marine atmosphere. It is clearly a fast paced, tough scenario, provided that the jet fueled cargo from one of many ships is at the moment on fireplace.

“As quickly as that fireplace is out, we’ll be capable to assess higher easy methods to mitigate the impacts on the marine atmosphere.”

One of many fires has been put out.

“There doesn’t look like any suggestion of foul play right now.”

Daniela Schmidt, professor of earth sciences on the College of Bristol, stated: “There are a number of Marine protected areas close to Hull comparable to Flamborough Head and Holderness.

“These areas are protected as a result of their wealthy habitats supporting marine wildlife together with fish, bivalves, crabs and birds. Round Flamborough the nesting season will quickly begin.

“Whereas the primary focus is on containing the hearth, the air pollution related to the accident has the potential to unfold broadly relying on the currents and waves with the danger of impacting these protected areas.

“Pure England and North Jap Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority can be monitoring the distribution of the oil movie intently however in the mean time it’s to early to find out the impacts.”

Solong, the Portuguese vessel concerned in a crash with US tanker Stena Immaculate, remains to be alight and has drifted away from the unique website of the collision, His Majesty’s Coastguard stated.

Air high quality at floor stage has additionally been deemed by the Division for Atmosphere, Meals and Rural affairs as “inside regular ranges for the climate situations”, they added.

“The Solong remains to be alight and the hearth on board the Stena Immaculate has vastly diminished,” HM Coastguard stated on Tuesday afternoon.

“Security vessels and different vessels with firefighting capabilities are nonetheless on scene with extra arriving in the present day.

“At 11.20pm final night time the Solong separated from the Stena Immaculate and started to float southwards, that is being monitored by HM Coastguard. An exclusion zone of 1km radius has been put in place round each vessels.

“The Counter Air pollution and Salvage Group is assessing the scenario and is creating a plan prepared for implementation as quickly because the scenario permits.

“The SOSREP is working with ship homeowners, salvors and insurance coverage corporations.

“The Division for Atmosphere, Meals and Rural Affairs is monitoring the scenario intently and has confirmed that air high quality at floor stage is at the moment inside regular ranges for the climate situations.

“The UK Well being Safety Company (HSA) can be helping within the response, and has suggested that any public well being danger on shore is at the moment deemed to be very low

“HSA danger assessments are underneath continuous evaluate as additional data turns into accessible.”

Solong proprietor Ernst Russ has now stated the ship has “no containers on board ladened with sodium cyanide”, after experiences circulated that the ship was transporting the chemical, prompting additional fears over the incident’s environmental injury.

Native wildlife trusts have raised issues in regards to the influence of any air pollution from the 2 vessels on an array of species, together with threatened seabird colonies, gray seals, harbour porpoises, fish, and minke whales.

Dutch marine supplier Boskalis will salvage the US-flagged tanker Stena Immaculate, a spokesperson has stated.

He couldn’t give a timeframe for the salvaging however added that 4 ships carrying foam and extinguishing brokers have been already en route to place out the hearth attributable to the collision.

One other firm would salvage Solong, the opposite container ship concerned within the collision, Boskalis’ spokesperson stated with out specifying which firm.

Dr Tom Webb, senior lecturer in marine ecology and conservation on the College of Sheffield, stated: “The wildlife of the Yorkshire coast and Humber Estuary is of immense organic, cultural and financial significance. Along with the wealth of marine life that’s current all yr spherical, this time of the yr is essential for a lot of migratory species.

“Chemical air pollution ensuing from incidents of this sort can straight influence birds, and it may possibly even have long-lasting results on the marine meals webs that help them.”

Dr Alex Lukyanov, researcher on superior mathematical fashions of oil spills from the College of Studying, stated: “Oil spills just like the one within the North Sea are affected by a number of elements. The dimensions of the spill, climate situations, sea currents, water waves, wind patterns, and the kind of oil concerned all play essential roles in figuring out environmental outcomes.

“This specific incident is troubling as a result of it seems to contain persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water.”