- A cargo ship collided with an oil tanker in the North Sea off the northeastern coast of England.
- The incident caused a major fire, prompting an emergency response from the British coastguard.
- Several crew members abandoned the vessels, and at least 32 people have been brought ashore.
- The cause of the collision remains unclear.
- The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is monitoring the situation.
A cargo ship collided with an oil tanker off the northeastern coast of England, igniting a massive fire and prompting a swift emergency response from the British coastguard. A helicopter, multiple lifeboats, and firefighting vessels were dispatched to the site in the North Sea.
Videos from the scene show thick black smoke billowing from at least one vessel engulfed in flames. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) confirmed it had deployed four lifeboat crews and was responding to “reports that a number of people had abandoned the vessels following a collision and there were fires on both ships.”
Rescue Operations Underway
Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the nearby Port of Grimsby East, stated that at least 32 people had been brought ashore. Ambulances were on standby at the dock to provide medical assistance.
All crew members from the oil tanker have been accounted for and brought to safety, according to a company spokesperson, though the exact number of personnel onboard at the time of the collision remains unknown.
Circumstances of the Incident
The cargo ship had departed from the Scottish port of Grangemouth and was en route to Rotterdam when it struck the anchored oil tanker near Hull. It remains unclear how the vessels came into contact, given modern navigation technology.
Martyn Boyers commented on the situation, stating, “It seems a mystery, really, because all the vessels now have very highly sophisticated technical equipment to plot courses and to look at any obstacles or anything they’ve got to avoid. It’s difficult to actually suggest what went on, other than the fact it should never have happened.”
The tanker was carrying jet fuel and had been anchored off the English coast after departing from a Greek port last month. The vessel is part of a fleet operating under a U.S. government program designed to supply military fuel in times of need.
Ongoing Investigation
The British coastguard reported that the alarm was raised at 9:48 a.m. local time, and efforts are still ongoing. Multiple high-speed ships and a tugboat were seen moving toward the collision site during the rescue operation.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) confirmed its awareness of the incident and stated, “The current focus is on the firefighting and search and rescue operation. In due course, a full marine casualty investigation report should be submitted to the International Maritime Organization.”
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Source: CNN
