A TANKER and containership were left ablaze after colliding off the UK coast on March 10.

Both vessels have sustained “significant damage”, said owner of containership Solong (IMO: 9322554), Ernst Russ AG.

One member of the containership’s crew is still missing.  

The UK’s HM Coastguard coordinated the emergency response after it received reports of a collision off Hull.

Madeira-flagged containership Solong (IMO: 9322554) collided with Stena Bulk-owned, US-flagged tanker Stena Immaculate (IMO: 9693018) while it was at anchor.

The coastguard said the alarm was raised at 0948 hrs and confirmed that a coastguard helicopter was dispatched, alongside lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe and Cleethorpes, an HM Coastguard fixed wing aircraft, and nearby vessels with fire-fighting capability.

The UK’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution, which operates lifeboats across the UK coastline, said its lifeboats were called upon by HM Coastguard at 1020 hrs.

It said there were reports that a number of people had abandoned the vessels following the collision.

By 1140 hrs, the Cleethorpes lifeboat had been stood down while Bridlington, Mablethorpe and Skegness continued to support search and rescue efforts.

The U.S-flagged oil tanker, M/T Stena Immaculate was struck this morning by the Portuguese-flagged cargo vessel, M/V Solong while at anchor off the coast of the U.K. in the North Sea, resulting in a massive fire which has now engulfed the Stena Immaculate. The crew of the vessel… pic.twitter.com/zq4iPIdNx5

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 10, 2025

The RNLI said the incident is ongoing and it continues to work with the coastguard.

A statement from Stena Immaculate’s manager, Crowley, said the tanker suffered a ruptured cargo tank containing jet fuel as a result of the incident, which caused an onboard fire.

The tanker’s crew abandoned the vessel following multiple explosions on board but are all accounted for.

Lloyd’s List understands the tanker was carrying around 220,000 barrels of jet fuel owned by the US government at the time of the incident. Stena Bulk confirmed that the tanker was “serving government contracts”. Stena Immaculate participates in the US Tanker Security Program, which ensures the US has a fleet of tankers available to it in times of armed conflict or national emergency. 

Crowley said it is working with public agencies to contain the fire and secure the vessel.

Stena Bulk acknowledged that the tanker was managed and operated by Crowley, but said a “significant support operation is present in the vicinity and being coordinated by HM Humber Coastguard”.

The tanker arrived at Immingham anchorage at 1903 hrs on March 9.

Solong left Grangemouth, near Edinburgh, on March 9 and travelled down the UK’s east coast bound for Rotterdam.

The containership was carrying an unknown quantity of alcohol and 15 containers of sodium cyanide.

The owner of  Solong, Ernst Russ AG, confirmed that 13 of the vessel's 14 crew have been safely brought ashore. 

Standby safety vessel VOS Glamour (IMO: 9680516) is continuing the search for the missing crew member. 

“Ernst Russ immediately activated an emergency response team, and the company remains in contact with them, the master of Solong and all relevant marine authorities at Humberside,” Solong’sowner said. 

“The first priority is the safety of the crew(s), all responders and the environment.”

The spokesperson for the UK prime minister called the situation “extremely concerning”. 

“We thank the emergency services for their rapid response. I understand the Department for Transport is working closely with the coastguard to help support the response to the incident.

“We’re obviously monitoring the situation, we’ll continue to co-ordinate the response and we’re grateful to emergency personnel for their continued efforts.”

Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, said via social media platform X that she was “concerned to hear of the collision between two vessels in the North Sea this morning and am liaising with officials and HM Coastguard as the situation develops”.

“I want to thank all emergency service workers involved for their continued efforts in responding to the incident.”

Associated British Ports, which runs the ports of Immingham, Grimsby and Hull, said all vessel movements in the Humber are suspended as a result of the incident off the UK coast. 

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has deployed a team to begin a preliminary investigation, the Prime Minister's spokesperson confirmed.