High Seas Havoc: Catastrophic Collision Off England's Coast

A Portuguese container ship collided with a US military-chartered tanker off England's coast, igniting a major blaze and sparking environmental concerns. The cargo included toxic sodium cyanide and military fuels, with one crew member missing and significant vessel damage reported. Rescue operations ensured most were safely evacuated.

A catastrophic event unfurled off the northeast coast of England on Monday when the Portuguese container ship, the Solong, collided with the US military-chartered tanker, the Stena Immaculate, according to CNN. The incident led to a massive blaze and prompted dramatic rescue operations amid fears of environmental contamination.

Maritime intelligence from Lloyd's List revealed that the Solong was transporting sodium cyanide, a dangerous chemical, when the collision occurred at about 10 am local time, 10 miles from the English coast in the North Sea, as tracked by VesselFinder. Ernst Russ, the ship's owner, confirmed the successful rescue of all but one of the 14 crew members on board.

The search for the missing crew member concluded by Monday night with no sight of them, British coastguards reported. Ernst Russ indicated in their statement that the collision resulted in substantial damage to both vessels and the ensuing fire complicated matters further.

Crowley, a US logistics firm managing the Stena Immaculate, assured that all its crew were unscathed post-collision. Alastair Smith from the East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust mentioned 36 individuals received medical attention upon reaching the shore.

The hazard extended beyond immediate human impact, as the Solong's cargo included 15 containers of sodium cyanide alongside unknown alcohol quantities, Lloyd's List detailed. There are fears that cyanide, which can produce toxic hydrogen cyanide gas upon contact with water, might have been released into the sea.

Onboard the Stena Immaculate was military jet fuel and marine diesel destined for Killingholme, England, a Defense Logistics Agency representative stated. Post-resupply in Killingholme, the tanker was scheduled to distribute fuel throughout the Mediterranean.

Departing from Scotland's Grangemouth on Sunday evening, the Solong was en route to Rotterdam, Netherlands when the tragedy struck, as reported by VesselFinder. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)