The crew's prompt action during a critical incident on the North Sea has been praised, despite the tragic loss of a crew member.
Heroic Crew of Stena Immaculate Acknowledged After North Sea Collision
Heroic Crew of Stena Immaculate Acknowledged After North Sea Collision
Maritime company Crowley commends the crew's bravery following a ship collision that raised environmental concerns.
In a recent statement, the co-owners of the oil tanker Stena Immaculate have expressed their gratitude towards the crew following a distressing collision with the cargo ship Solong in the North Sea. Happening off the coast of East Yorkshire on March 10, the incident resulted in an explosion that necessitated swift emergency responses. While 36 individuals from both vessels were successfully rescued, one member from the Solong, Filipino national Mark Angelo Pernia, remains missing and is presumed dead.
Crowley, a Florida-based maritime operations company managing the Stena Immaculate, took to social media to acknowledge the heroism of their 23 crew members. They were commended for their effective teamwork and decisive actions that helped safeguard not only lives but also the environmental integrity of the vessel. Their efficient fire and emergency protocols were credited with limiting the damage to just one of the 16 cargo holds on board the tanker.
Simultaneously, the owners of the Solong confirmed that tiny plastic nurdles — small resin pellets used in plastics manufacturing — were released during the incident. Acknowledging the potential environmental risk, they stated that no containers of these pellets had been lost overboard; rather, the intense heat from firefighting efforts may have caused some smaller containers to spill their contents. As a precaution, the coastguard has been actively working to remove these pellets, which, although non-toxic, pose a danger to marine wildlife if ingested.
Chief coastguard Paddy O'Callaghan confirmed that both vessels are "stable" as retrieval operations continue. They are monitoring the situation closely, conducting regular aerial surveillance and establishing temperature controls on the Solong. Meanwhile, Captain Vladimir Motin of the Solong has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter, following the unfortunate events leading to the collision.
The RNLI has also recognized the bravery of volunteer lifeboat crews from various locations who dedicated hours to the rescue mission, navigating challenging sea conditions. As the investigation by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch seeks to determine the cause of the collision, emphasis remains on the crucial balance between maritime operations and environmental responsibility.
