Man held for manslaughter over North Sea collision

A 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after the collision between a tanker and a cargo vessel in the North Sea.

- HARRY STEDMAN

The Portuguese vessel Solong is drifting after a crash with US tanker Stena Immaculate off the east coast of Yorkshire on Monday.

One crew member from the Solong is still missing and presumed dead after a search and rescue operation ended on Monday evening.

The transport secretary said yesterday that the Solong was now expected to stay afloat, after previous concerns that the vessel would sink.

Humberside Police said it had launched a criminal investigation into the cause of the collision, along with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is also making an early assessment to establish the causes of the collision.

Detective chief superintendent Craig Nicholson said: “Humberside Police have taken primacy for the investigation of any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision between the two vessels.

“Following inquiries undertaken by my team, we have arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision – this follows the conclusion of search operations by HM Coastguard for the missing crew member of the Solong.