Salvors board stricken vessels involved in UK collision
Fires on board both vessels have been brought under control since the incident on Monday, March 10
Stena Immaculate remains at anchor, while containership Solong is being held in a safe position by a tug, UK Coastguard said in an update
SALVORS have managed to board two vessels four days after they were involved in a collision off the UK coast.
Madeira-flagged containership Solong (IMO: 9322554) collided with US-flagged tanker Stena Immaculate (IMO: 9693018) while it was anchor off Hull on March 10.
The tanker was carrying jet fuel for the US military, while Solong was carrying empty containers that had been used to transport sodium cyanide.
In an update issued at 1445 hrs on March 14, chief coastguard Paddy O’Callaghan said both vessels remain stable, with salvors able to board and conduct damage assessments on the tanker and boxship.
“The locations of the vessels are unchanged — Stena Immaculate remains at anchor. Solong continues to be held in a safe location connected to a tug,” he said.
“There are now only small periodic pockets of fire on Solong, which are not causing undue concern. Specialist tugs with firefighting capability remain at both vessels’ locations.
“Regular aerial surveillance flights continue to monitor the vessels and confirm there continues to be no cause for concern from pollution from either Stena Immaculate or from Solong.”
The UK Health Security Agency continues to advise that any public health risk on shore is deemed to be very low, O’Callaghan added.
