The captain of the cargo ship that collided with US oil tanker Stena Immaculate is under arrest. Humberside Police in Yorkshire said the 59-year-old man was taken into custody “on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter” in connection with the collision.
According to news reports, the cargo ship Solong was still on fire late Tuesday and was drifting away from the tanker following Monday’s accident in the North Sea. Recent video footage shows this blackened, smoking vessel surrounded by tugboats.
“The man arrested remains in custody at this time whilst enquiries are underway, and we continue speaking with all those involved to establish the full circumstances of the incident,” said the release.
The announcement followed the end of search operations for the missing crew member of the Solong.
News reports say the other 36 crew members of the two vessels were brought to the Port of Grimsby with no major injuries.
“Our thoughts are with the family of the missing crew member, and I have appointed Family Liaison Officers to make contact and provide support to the family,” said the release from the Police.
An exclusion zone is in place around both vessels. According to some reports, the cargo ship owners say the Solong was not carrying sodium cyanide, as previously reported, but did carry empty containers that once held the toxic chemical.
According to The Associated Press (AP), UK Transport Minister Mike Kane said, “No sign of pollution from vessels is observed at this time.”
The government also said, according to AP, that air quality readings were normal and the risk to public health onshore was “very low.”
The authorities say both ships are likely to stay afloat.
