A tanker and a cargo ship have collided in the North Sea off the East Yorkshire coast, United Kiongdom, prompting a major rescue operation. Reports indicate that both vessels are on fire, and some crew members have abandoned their ships. A coastguard helicopter and multiple lifeboats have been dispatched to the scene.
The UK’s HM Coastguard reported that the incident occurred near the Humber Estuary at approximately 9:48 a.m. GMT on Monday. Rescue teams, including lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe, and Cleethorpes, have been deployed alongside a fixed-wing aircraft and nearby vessels equipped with firefighting capabilities.
The Coastguard confirmed that the response remains ongoing, while the Royal National Lifeboat Institution stated that there were reports of multiple people in the water. Thick black smoke and flames have been observed, but it remains unclear which of the two ships is the primary source of the fire.
According to maritime tracking data, the cargo vessel Solong was en route to Rotterdam in the Netherlands after departing from Grangemouth, Scotland, earlier in the day. Tracking data suggests the oil tanker involved was stationary when Solong approached and collided with it. The stationary vessel is believed to be the Stena Immaculate, which was traveling from Greece to the United Kingdom at the time of the incident.
The crash took place just off the Lincolnshire coastline, near the Humber Estuary, close to British waters. The Coastguard reported that the alarm was raised at 9:48 a.m., and a helicopter, four lifeboats, a fixed-wing aircraft, and firefighting vessels were dispatched to assist.
The RNLI confirmed that fires had been reported on both ships and that some crew members had abandoned the vessels. Lifeboats were deployed at 10:20 a.m. and continued search and rescue efforts, with Cleethorpes lifeboat later being stood down at 11:40 a.m.
Authorities have yet to confirm the cause of the collision or the extent of potential casualties. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, and updates will follow as more details emerge.
