Fire on Solong still persists as missing sailor is now presumed dead

Minister for Aviation, Maritime, and Security, Mike Kane addressed the House of Commons, revealing that 13 of the 14 sailors aboard the Solong were rescued, but the missing sailor is presumed dead.

Kane also shared that experts now believe it is unlikely the Solong will remain afloat as it continues to drift. While the fire that erupted on the oil tanker Stena Immaculate on March 10 has been extinguished, the fire on the Solong remains ongoing.

Meanwhile, the owner of the Solong cargo ship has confirmed that no sodium cyanide was aboard, following misreporting of its presence. In a statement, Ernst Russ, the ship’s owner, clarified that the hazardous chemical was not on board, contrary to earlier fears. 

The company stated: “We can confirm that there are no containers laden with sodium cyanide on board, as previously misreported. There are four empty containers that once held the chemical, and these will continue to be monitored.” According to BBC, a Downing Street spokesperson also commented that there “doesn’t appear to be any suggestion of foul play at this time.”

Furthermore, the HM Coastguard explained that the Solong had drifted southward and separated from the Stena Immaculate. Firefighting and safety vessels remain on site, and the UK Health Security Agency stated that the public health risk remains very low.

Now a major multinational salvage operation is also being organized along the North Sea coast to begin work on Stena Immaculate.

Salvage efforts

SkyNews reports that salvagers have been preparing to approach the Stena Immaculate. Martijn Schuttevaer, spokesperson for Boskalis, the appointed salvage operator for the vessel, explained that they are now able to approach the tanker to “measure the temperature.” He emphasized the importance of checking for any remaining hot spots inside the vessel, as they could flare up if exposed to oxygen. He noted that while the exterior of the ship “looks relatively calm,” it is “quite charred.”

In addition, Schuttevaer pointed out that before taking further action, they must first assess the temperature inside the ship and confirm there are no toxic fumes, which could pose a safety hazard. Only then will they decide whether to transfer the cargo or tow the vessel to port.

Aviation, Maritime, and Security Minister Mike Kane also addressed the situation, stating that counter-pollution measures would begin once the fire on the Solong is extinguished. Mike Kane mentioned that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is ready with both marine and aerial counter-pollution measures.

These measures will be deployed as soon as the fire is under control and efforts will be made to keep shipping lanes open in the Humber Estuary.