North Sea tanker collision: Everything we know as one crew member remains missing

US-flagged MV Stena Immaculate tanker was anchored off the east coast of England when it was hit by container ship Solong..

The North Sea tanker collision that sent plumes of black smoke billowing over Grimsby on Wednesday has made headlines across the UK and internationally. Here's everything we know so far about the shocking incident.

The crash occurred around 10am on Monday, when the US-flagged MV Stena Immaculate tanker collided with the container ship Solong. The Stena Immaculate caught fire dramatically while docked at Grimsby Port, with onlookers sharing images of the tanker nearly obscured by smoke. It has since been confirmed that the tanker was carrying unstable materials.

The Maritime Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) launched an investigation while the tanker was still burning, with officials expected to begin preliminary proceedings today, the Mirror reports. Though many details remain unclear, several facts have been confirmed, including the possibility that the Solong was on autopilot at the time of the crash, making it "unable to deviate" from its course.

Alarm was raised at port after 9.48am

A trawlerman, who wished to remain anonymous, reported that a mayday call was issued after the fire began, with smoke and the smell of burning overwhelming the area. The alarm was raised at 9:48 am, urging vessels with firefighting capabilities or those able to assist with search and rescue to contact the Humber Coast Guard on Channel 16.

The trawlerman further reported: “The Stena Immaculate vessel is carrying Jet A-1 fuel, which is now on fire and in the water. We request that vessels stay at a safe distance.”

There were 37 crew members involved in the incident

Local authorities confirmed that 37 crew members were aboard the two vessels when the crash took place. Graham Stuart, MP for Beverly and Holderness, stated that one crew member was taken to the hospital, while the remaining 35 crew members from both ships are "safe and accounted for."

One crew member is missing

The owner of the Solong, shipping company Ernst Russ, said they are searching for a missing crew member, though the other 13 have been confirmed safe. Matthew Atkinson, divisional commander for HM Coastguard, stated: “Thirty-six crew members were safely brought to shore, and one person was taken to the hospital. One crew member of the Solong remains unaccounted for. After an extensive search, sadly, they have not been found, and the search has ended. The two vessels remain on fire, and coastguard aircraft are monitoring the situation. A counter-pollution response is being assessed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.”

The Coastguard officially ended the search for the missing crew member just after 10 pm on Monday.

Britain's biggest eco-disaster fears

Crowley, the Florida-based company managing the Stena Immaculate, confirmed that the tanker was carrying jet fuel at the time of the collision. The ship sustained a "ruptured cargo tank" that caused the fuel to spill into the sea. A Crowley representative said: “We immediately activated our emergency vessel response plan and are working with public agencies to contain the fire and secure the vessel. Our top priority is the safety of the people and the environment. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.”

Emergency crews are working to prevent what could become Britain’s worst environmental disaster in decades. The collision occurred in an area home to vital colonies of rare British seabirds, including puffins, razorbills, gannets, and kittiwakes — species already struggling due to the effects of climate change and the Avian flu outbreak. Many of these birds will soon begin gathering offshore for the nesting season.

The cargo container was carrying toxic sodium cyanide

The Solong’s cargo contained over a dozen containers of sodium cyanide, a toxic compound used in industrial cleaning. Authorities have yet to confirm whether the substance leaked into the sea at Grimsby Port or if it reacted with the fire to produce toxic gases.

There are also reports that the Solong may have been operating on autopilot, which could have contributed to the collision. Martyn Boyers, CEO of the Port of Grimsby East, explained: "Autopilot simply steers a course and doesn't deviate — there's no room for maneuver in the sea."