Fires aboard a cargo ship and a tanker which collided in the North Sea off the East Yorkshire coast have continued to burn overnight.

Tuesday, 11 March 2025 13:59

By Dylan Connell

Coastguard aircraft were monitoring the situation with the vessels still alight this morning (Tuesday, March 11).

A search for a missing crew member from the cargo ship was called off on Monday night.

HM Coastguard said efforts to find the person from the Solong container ship had ended after “an extensive search”, following the ship’s collision with the Stena Immaculate tanker on Monday morning.

Bartek Smialek's footage of black smoke

billowing into the air after a crash between an oil tanker and a cargo ship off the coast of East Yorkshire. Video: Bartek Smialek/PA Wire

The maritime company managing the Stena Immaculate, Crowley, said the vessel was struck by the Solong while anchored off the coast of Hull, causing “multiple explosions” on board and Jet A-1 fuel it was carrying to be released.

Crowley said it was unclear how much fuel may have been released, but that Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks when it was struck.

At least one tank “was ruptured”, according to the company.

Martin Slater, director of operations at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, described the incident as “very worrying” and said the charity is “following developments closely, including waiting to see if there is any pollution into the North Sea from this incident”.

“Our thoughts are with everyone on the ships and the rescue crews,” he said.

As it happened: Tanker and cargo vessel collide off East Yorkshire coast

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