A collision occurred on March 10, 2025, in the North Sea between the container ship Solong and the tanker Stena Immaculate, which was anchored for U.S. Army operations.

The captain of the Solong, a 59-year-old Russian national, was subsequently arrested by British police and charged with gross negligence manslaughter.

The incident, reported to have resulted in significant fires aboard both vessels, has left one crew member from the Solong missing and presumed dead.

As of March 12, the fires on the Stena Immaculate had been extinguished, while flames on the Solong were reported to have diminished considerably, according to coastguard officials.

The collision took place approximately 20 kilometers off the northeast coast of England.

Both ships endured considerable structural damage, with the Stena Immaculate, which carried aviation fuel, sustaining a visible breach in its hull following the impact.

Mike Kane, the UK Secretary of State for Transport, acknowledged a serious failure leading to the collision, asserting there was no evidence at that stage of criminal wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, safety inspections conducted in July 2024 in Ireland had identified multiple deficiencies aboard the Solong, including a faulty emergency steering compass and inadequately maintained lifeboats, although the vessel was permitted to proceed on its voyage after addressing the noted failures.

Experts have described this incident as exceptionally rare, raising critical questions regarding the collision avoidance measures employed by the Solong.

Abdul Khalique, head of the Maritime Centre at Liverpool John Moores University, indicated that opportunities to change course may have been overlooked.

The spill of aviation fuel raised concerns about potential environmental harm, particularly regarding marine wildlife in the vicinity.

Greenpeace noted that a significant environmental disaster had likely been narrowly avoided, although Virginia McVea, the head of the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency, reported no additional pollution beyond the initial incident.

Local wildlife conservation organizations are monitoring the potential impact of the incident, particularly the risk to marine life such as birds and cetaceans that might be affected by the aviation fuel.

Photos taken by aerial units following the incident displayed smoke ascending from the Solong and highlighted the damage to the Stena Immaculate.

The British coastguard directed the rescue operation, successfully evacuating 36 individuals from both vessels, including 23 crew members from the Stena Immaculate.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the rescue services for their swift and courageous response during parliamentary addresses.