North Sea crash replace as ‘extreme’ warning issued with crew member nonetheless lacking | UK | News | EUROtoday

The determined seek for the ultimate remaining lacking crew member from a container ship that crashed within the North Sea yesterday morning has been referred to as off, with consultants warning that the environmental influence of the collision could possibly be “severe”. HM Coastguard mentioned in an announcement that efforts to seek out the member of MV Solong crew had ended final evening after “an extensive search”, following the ship’s collision with the Stena Immaculate oil tanker at 9.48am on Monday.

There are grave considerations concerning the amount and sort of oil spilled into the ocean off the UK coast. Dr Alex Lukyanov, researcher on superior mathematical fashions of oil spills from the University of Reading, mentioned. “Oil spills like the one in the North Sea are affected by multiple factors. The size of the spill, weather conditions, sea currents, water waves, wind patterns, and the type of oil involved all play crucial roles in determining environmental outcomes. This particular incident is troubling because it appears to involve persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water.

He added: “The environmental toll could possibly be extreme.”

The coastguard confirmed that both boats remain on fire. Crowley, the company which manages the Stena Immaculate said the vessel was struck by the Solong while anchored off the coast of Hull, sparking “a number of explosions” on board and jet fuel it was carrying to be released in the sea.

Crowley said it was unclear how much fuel may have been released as a result of the incident, but that Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks when it was struck.

The tanker was operating as part of the US government’s Tanker Security Programme, a group of commercial vessels that can be contracted to carry fuel for the military when needed.

It had been anchored while it waited for a berth to become available at the Port of Killingholme, on the River Humber, Crowley said.

According to reports, the Solong was carrying sodium cyanide, which can produce harmful gas when combined with water, but it was unclear if there had been any leak.

Matthew Atkinson, divisional commander for HM Coastguard, said: “HM Coastguard has been co-ordinating the response to an incident reported at 9.48am this morning (10 March).

“36 crew members were taken safely to shore, one person was taken to hospital. One crew member of the SOLONG remains unaccounted for, after an extensive search for the missing crew member, sadly they have not been found and the search has ended.

“The two vessels stay on fireplace and coastguard plane are monitoring the scenario.

“An assessment of any required counter-pollution response is being carried out by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

“The Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention is working with the salvors and insurance coverage corporations.”