Dramatic new film has captured the moment MV Solong ploughed into oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate in the North Sea off the coast of East Yorkshire. The Stena, registered in the United States, was anchored and carrying 220,000 barrels of aviation fuel intended for the US Air Force. The Portuguese-flagged Solong was transporting alcohol. Initial concerns about sodium cyanide on board were later proven unfounded, as the containers were empty.
The collision resulted in fires on both vessels, prompting the crews to abandon the ship. Of the 36 crew members across both ships, 35 were rescued, with one individual from the Solong reported missing and presumed dead. The captain of the Solong, a Russian national, was on Wednesday arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. The footage, released by Orca AI, comprises two videos. The first clip was captured by day cameras and shows the dense fog, which would likely have prevented the crew of Solong from seeing the Stena Immaculate through the human eye.
The second, captured by Orca AI’s thermal cameras, shows the approach of the Solong and the explosion as it ploughed into the tanker, triggering a massive explosion
Yarden Gross, CEO and Co-Founder of Orca AI, which captured the footage, said the incident was a timely reminder of the need to integrate advanced technology into modern vessels.
He explained: “This week’s collision is another stark reminder of the fragility of maritime navigation.
“Despite technological advancements, crews still rely heavily on traditional navigation tools that struggle with target detection in low visibility conditions, rough weather, and dense fog.
“Compounding these challenges, crew fatigue remains a critical issue, reducing reaction times and increasing the risk of human error.
“By integrating AI, ships can operate with greater autonomy, improving crew situational awareness, optimising response times, and ultimately reducing risks.
“These advancements empower crews with smarter, data-driven decision-making tools to navigate safely and efficiently.”
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has said fires on board Solong have “greatly reduced”.
The 59-year-old captain was arrested by Humberside Police on Tuesday and remains in custody.
American-based maritime news website gCaptain reported that a US official in the White House told it that foul play had not been ruled out.
UK transport minister Mike Kane told MPs on Tuesday something went “terribly wrong” for the crash to happen but that there was “no evidence” of foul play.
Environmental concerns have arisen due to both vessels’ potential spillage of aviation fuel and heavy fuel oil. Salvage operations involving teams from the Netherlands, Norway, and Germany are underway to mitigate pollution risks.
The UK Health Security Agency has stated that public health risks onshore are currently low, but monitoring continues.
British, US, and Portuguese authorities are investigating the cause of the collision.