The damaged US tanker Stena Immaculate is expected to be towed to the Port of Great Yarmouth later this week, following a month of salvage efforts after a serious collision in the North Sea.
On March 10, while anchored about 12 miles off East Yorkshire, the tanker was struck by the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong, which was traveling at 16 knots without adjusting course. The impact pierced two of the tanker’s cargo tanks, igniting jet fuel and causing fires on both vessels. The crew of the Stena Immaculate abandoned ship, while one crew member from Solong is missing and presumed dead.
The Solong sustained extensive fire damage and was later towed to Aberdeen. Its master has since been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.
Following the collision, a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of jet fuel was conducted from the Stena Immaculate to the tanker Fure Vyl. This operation has now been successfully completed, and the Stena Immaculate is being readied for safe towing to a lay berth at Great Yarmouth. Crowley, the maritime firm managing the tanker, confirmed that the cargo is being delivered to its original destination in Killingholme, UK.
Meanwhile, the collision also resulted in environmental damage, as plastic pellets (nurdles) from the Solong’s cargo began washing up on beaches.
