NORTH SEA NIGHTMARE

Tanker with US jet fuel bursts into flames after ship hit it

- BY JEREMY ARMSTRONG

INVESTIGATORS will try to piece together how two ships collided and sent gallons of jet fuel pouring into the North Sea, despite their sophisticated navigational aids.

The US registered Stena Immaculate tanker burst into flames after being hit in foggy conditions by the container vessel Solong, which was carrying sodium cyanide.

Smoke was seen billowing out of the burning ship, which was carrying the jet fuel for the US military, as rescuers raced to the scene around 13 miles off Grimsby, Lincs, amid fears of an environmental catastrophe in an area populated by seabirds.

The owner of the Solong last night said one crew member was still missing.

But 13 others were taken to safety while 23 tanker workers were saved. Nobody needed hospital care. US officials said the Stena Immaculate, which was at anchor, was carrying “cargo in support of the Department of Defense” but that the crash would not affect military operations.

Authorities insisted there was no malicious intent however American sources claimed the state department “is not ruling out foul play”.

Port of Grimsby East chief executive Martyn Boyers said: “Visibility was poor but it is an absolute tragedy and raises a lot of questions.

“With all the technology on board both ships like that, you would not expect a collision could possibly take place. It is a mystery how that could have happened. They must have sent a mayday out, luckily there was a crew transfer vessel out there already.

“Then there was a flotilla of ambulances to pick up anyone they could find.”

Some of the crew members were met by emergency services at Grimsby docks.