US Oil Tanker Hits Cargo Ship In North Sea As Concerns Rise Over Crowded Waterway (Worthy News Investigation)

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

LONDON/ROTTERDAM (Worthy News) – The British coastguard said Monday it had called off the search for a missing crew member from a Portuguese cargo ship that crashed into a U.S.-flagged oil tanker in the North Sea.

“After an extensive search, the crew member was unfortunately not found,” a coastguard spokesperson confirmed.

The other 36 crew members from both ships were rescued, but officials said one person was taken to the hospital after rescue operations involving lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter were launched.

Authorities previously announced that more than 30 rescued people were injured, but apparently, they did not require more intensive medical treatment.

The ships involved were the MV Stena Immaculate, a U.S.-flagged oil tanker, and the MV Solong, a Portuguese cargo vessel.

Officials said thirteen of the fourteen crew members aboard the Solong and all those on the Stena Immaculate were rescued. Witnesses reported several explosions on the tanker.

Worthy News learned that one of the ships, the Stena Immaculate, built in 2017, was carrying around 15,900 tons of kerosene for the U.S. military. The ship manager said the jet fuel was destined for the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command.

TANKER STRUCK

It was anchored about 10 miles (16 kilometers) off the North Sea coast near Hull, England, when struck by the Solong en route from Grangemouth, Scotland, to the Dutch port city of Rotterdam, according to investigators.

Lloyd’s List Intelligence, an online service offering detailed vessel movements, said the cargo ship was carrying highly toxic sodium cyanide.

The consequences of a possible leak were still unclear, but experts said sodium cyanide is extremely poisonous: It inhibits a respiratory enzyme essential for nearly all plant and animal cells, and any cell that lacks this enzyme will die.

Ewout van Galen, director of the Netherlands-based Stichting De Noordzee (North Sea Foundation), suggested that the collision could have major consequences for Britain and the Netherlands, a traditional seafaring nation. “Dutch beaches may also be affected by leaking fuel,” he added. “This depends on the wind, currents, and the amount of fuel released.”

Van Galen fears the accident could turn into an environmental disaster. “We will have to see whether the fire can be brought under control quickly. It is crucial that as little fuel as possible enters the sea,” the director stressed.

The crash also underscored concerns about safety challenges in one of the world’s busiest waterways, where offshore wind farms and increased traffic have increased risks, experts say.

“The North Sea is being used more intensively,” noted Maarten Verdaasdonk, project leader for Clean Shipping at the North Sea Foundation. “Not only by shipping but also by other parties, such as offshore wind farms. This puts pressure on available space and increases the risk of collisions” in the North Sea, he added.

MORE INCIDENT

While the cause of the collision was still under investigation Monday, Verdaasdonk said such incidents “or near-incidents” are happening more frequently.

“We don’t keep exact data but are concerned about it.”

Leen van den Ende, former captain and chairman of the Dutch Association of Merchant Navy Captains (NVKK), confirmed that maneuvering space for ships is shrinking.

“The North Sea used to feel vast, but now it’s becoming more like an inland waterway where you must stay highly alert,” the Dutch daily De Telegraaf (The Telegraph) quoted him as saying.

Maritime representatives said weather conditions such as dense fog or even a moment of inattention can quickly lead to serious consequences.

Experts have suggested setting up a radar and traffic system comparable to those used by aircraft to improve safety in the North Sea. “If the North Sea becomes even busier, a traffic guidance system—similar to aviation—would be a serious option. Ships could then be better guided by radar and specialists onshore.”

Another measure already in place is the use of North Sea pilots. “These are additional pilots who come on board to help navigate ships through the North Sea. Large container ships often make use of this service. It’s not a guarantee against accidents, but it does help to ease the pressure on the crew,” he added.

Yet, for now, the shipping industry will face more challenges as it tries to navigate an increased number of wind turbines, offshore drilling, and vessels, including even those used by migrants fleeing war, persecution, and poverty.

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