After a direct strike from container vessel Solong caused explosions and fire on board a Stena Bulk MR tanker full of jet fuel, crew ensured tank cooling systems were on before abandoning ship
Norwegian shipowner Stena Bulk has praised the actions of crew in the moments after Stena Immaculate was speared by Portugal-flagged container feeder vessel Solong while at anchor in the North Sea off the coast of the UK region of Yorkshire and The Humber.
The incident, which is believed to have claimed the life of one of Solong’s crew, happened under foggy sea conditions, as a video of the collision shows.
When an explosion erupted after Solong struck Stena Immaculate, Stena and shipmanager Crowley said its tanker crew behaved with professionalism and heroism.
“We are immensely proud of our crew members who, before being forced to abandon ship, demonstrated exceptional professionalism by ensuring fire monitors were active to provide boundary cooling water to the adjacent cargo tanks. This decisive action significantly limited the damage,” Stena said.
“The crew had the dedication and presence of mind to ensure fire monitors were active in order to provide cooling water to the adjacent cargo tanks. Their heroic actions limited damage to only the cargo tanks directly impacted by the allision,” Crowley global shipmanagement vice president Cal Hayden said.
The companies said salvage assessments are ongoing on boardStena Immaculate, and the assessments have confirmed that, of the 220,000 barrels of jet A-1 fuel in the 18 cargo tanks on board the MR tanker, just over 17,500 barrels of the jet fuel cargo had been lost and only one tank had been damaged in the incident. They said the “UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) position remains that there continues to be no cause for concern for pollution from the tanker”.
Stena Bulk and Crowley are joined through a US tanker venture, with Stena Immaculate being one of three Crowley-managed Stena Bulk tankers to have beenchosen by the US Maritime Administration for the US’ 10-vessel Tanker Security Program, which aims to “ensure efficient transport during critical periods” for US national defence purposes.
