Tanker collision newest: ‘It got here out of the blue’: Sailor describes harrowing escape from tanker

Imogen James
Stay reporter

Picture supply, Reuters

Simply earlier than 10:00 GMT, two vessels collided off the East Yorkshire coast in a busy transport space.

Each caught fireplace. Twelve hours on, they’re persevering with to burn.

The Stena Immaculate – a US oil tanker – was hit by the Portuguese cargo ship, the Solong, whereas at anchor.

It got here out of the blue, a tanker crew member instructed the BBC’s Rowan Bridge. He and his colleagues had been shopping for new garments within the native Asda – that they had no time to gather their belongings earlier than being rushed onto lifeboats.

The coastguard stated 36 individuals had been introduced ashore, one in all whom was hospitalised.

Solong’s proprietor, Ernst Russ, later shared that one member of its 14-strong crew was lacking. This was confirmed by the coastguard because it introduced that the search had been known as off.

The Stena Immaculate was carrying jet gasoline for the US authorities when it was struck, a few of which is spilling into the ocean, sparking considerations for the marine life within the space.

The Solong was carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide amongst its cargo, in line with a report. It is unclear if any has entered the water.

Whereas we’re beginning to get a clearer sense of the occasions that led to the collision, many questions as to how and why it occurred stay unanswered.

Our dwell protection is ending now, however we’ll proceed to replace you on all the newest developments in our essential information story.