Collision Causes Fire in Busy Shipping Lane Off East Yorkshire Coast
An oil tanker and a cargo ship collided off the eastern coast of England, igniting both vessels and resulting in at least 32 casualties being brought ashore during a large-scale rescue operation.
A spokesperson for the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency confirmed on Monday that the crash occurred off the coast of East Yorkshire. Both ships were engulfed in flames, with British media broadcasting images of a massive plume of black smoke and fire rising from the scene.
Martyn Boyers, Chief Executive of the Port of Grimsby East, reported that at least 32 casualties were brought to shore, although their conditions remain unclear. “It’s too far out for us to see—about 10 miles—but we’ve seen the vessels bringing them in,” he said. Boyers added that 13 casualties were transported on a Windcat 33 vessel, while another 19 were brought in on a harbor pilot boat. He also mentioned being informed of a “massive fireball” at the scene.
The coastguard dispatched a helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft, lifeboats, and firefighting vessels to the busy shipping lane after the alarm was raised at 09:48 GMT. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, which participated in the emergency response, stated there were reports that “a number of people had abandoned the vessels,” leading to “fires on both ships.” Three lifeboats were deployed for search and rescue operations alongside the coastguard.
Swedish tanker company Stena Bulk confirmed ownership of the oil tanker involved in the accident, noting that it was operated by Crowley, a U.S.-based maritime company. Stena Bulk also confirmed that all 20 crew members on board were accounted for. Media reports identified the cargo ship as the “Solong” or “So Long,” owned by the German company Reederei Koepping.
The collision occurred in a heavily trafficked area, with vessels frequently traveling between ports along Britain’s northeast coast and destinations in the Netherlands and Germany.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN’s shipping agency, stated it was aware of the incident and is investigating further.
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