The collision happened on Monday afternoon (Image: NC)
The White House is not ruling out foul play in the collision between US-flagged MV Stena Immaculate and a cargo ship.
The American ship collided with the Portuguese-flagged MV Solong earlier today. So far no casualities have been confirmed, and according to the MailOnline 32 people have been accounted for but others remain missing.
A HM spokesperson said: “HM Coastguard is currently co-ordinating the emergency response to reports of a collision between a tanker and cargo vessel off the coast of .
“The alarm was raised at 9.48am. A Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Humberside was called, alongside lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Maplethorpe and Cleethorpes, an HM Coastguard fixed wing aircraft, and nearby vessels with fire-fighting capability. The incident remains ongoing.”
The US-flagged MV Stena Immaculate (Image: Wikicommons)
“It appears that Solong did not slow down or maneuver. It rammed straight into the side of Stena Immaculate,” said maritime historian Sal Mercogliano.
In a recording believed to be of the coastguard’s alert about the collision, sailors were warned: “Solong has collided with tanker Stena Immaculate in the outer anchorage. Both vessels are abandoning.
“Vessels who have firefighting equipment or who can assist with search and rescue [should] contact Humber coastguard on Channel 16. Vessel Stena Immaculate is carrying jet A-1 fuel which is on fire and in the water. Request vessels remain at a safe distance.”
Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, said witnesses saw “a massive fireball.” He added: “It’s too far out for us to see – about 10 miles – but we have seen the vessels bringing them in.
“They must have sent a mayday out – luckily there was a crew transfer vessel out there already. Since then there has been a flotilla of ambulances to pick up anyone they can find.”
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‘There will be an inquest into the incident—given the onboard technology, this shouldn’t have happenMartin Boyers, CEO of the Port of Grimsby, calls the collision off the UK coast a “very unusual and tragic accident” as 32 casualties are reported.
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Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “I’m 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.”