Oil tanker and cargo ship on fire after colliding off coast of East Yorkshire

An oil tanker and cargo ship are both on fire after colliding in the North Sea off the coast of East Yorkshire, the RNLI has said.

The lifeboat service added it had sent four crews to the scene after the crash was reported just before 9.50am.

A number of people abandoned the vessels following the collision around 13 miles from the coast.

All those from the oil tanker are said to be "safe and fully accounted for", however jet fuel has been released into the sea, according to the firm that manages the vessel.

Meanwhile, the cargo ship was reportedly carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide, a Lloyd's List Intelligence casualty report said, according to news agency Reuters.

Sky News understands there is a five-mile air and sea exclusion zone around the location of the incident, which may be widened to 10 miles if later required.

Read more: What we know about the collision

Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, earlier reported 32 casualties were brought ashore amid reports of a "massive fireball".

He said 13 casualties were brought in on a Windcat 33 high-speed vessel, followed by another 19 on a harbour pilot boat.

Local MP Graham Stuart later said 37 crew members were aboard the two ships, with one person later taken to hospital.

Mr Stuart, who represents Beverley and Holderness in East Yorkshire, said: "The other 36 mariners across both crews are safe and accounted for."

Two maritime security sources told Reuters there was "no indication" of any malicious activity or other actors involved in the incident.

'Multiple explosions onboard'

US logistics group Crowley, which manages oil tanker Stena Immaculate, confirmed the vessel had released some jet fuel after sustaining a ruptured cargo tank.

In a statement, Crowley said: "The Stena Immaculate sustained a ruptured cargo tank containing Jet-A1 fuel due to the allision (when a moving ship hits a stationary object).

"A fire occurred as a result of the allision, and fuel was reported released. The Stena Immaculate crew abandoned the vessel following multiple explosions onboard.

"All Crowley mariners are safe and fully accounted for."

The firm said it initiated its emergency vessel response plan and is "actively working with public agencies to contain the fire and secure the vessel".

Crowley added: "Our first priority is the safety of the people and environment. We will provide more updates as information becomes available."

Downing Street 'monitoring situation'

The prime minister's official spokesman said it was an "extremely concerning situation".

He said: "We thank the emergency services for their rapid response. I understand the Department for Transport is working closely with the coastguard to help support the response to the incident.

"We're obviously monitoring the situation, we'll continue to coordinate the response and we're grateful to emergency personnel for their continued efforts."

Meanwhile, Hull City Council leader Mike Ross has called for the UK government to set out a rapid response plan in response to the events.

Coastguard's emergency message

HM Coastguard said earlier it was coordinating the emergency response.

A coastguard helicopter took off from Humberside and headed to the scene alongside lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Maplethorpe and Cleethorpes.

Coastguard fixed-wing aircraft and nearby vessels with firefighting capability have also been involved in the operation.

The message broadcast by the Coastguard after the incident warned other ships to stay away from the area.

In audio shared on social media, the Coastguard can be heard warning Solong "has collided" with Stena Immaculate.

"Both vessels are abandoning," the message continued.

"Vessels who have firefighting equipment or can assist with search and rescue, contact Humber Coastguard.

"Stena is carrying Jet-A1 fuel, which is on fire and in the water. Vessels - remain at safe distance."

The East Midlands Ambulance Service said it received a call at 11:28am to North Quay in the Lincolnshire port town of Grimsby.

It added in a statement: "We've sent multiple resources, including our Hazardous Area Response Team, and we are currently still on scene."

'Inspectors are gathering evidence'

Meanwhile, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has sent investigators to the town.

A spokesperson said: "Our team of inspectors and support staff are gathering evidence and undertaking a preliminary assessment of the accident to determine our next steps."

The oil tanker is named Stena Immaculate and is sailing under a US flag, while the cargo ship is named Solong and is Portuguese-flagged, according to Marinetraffic.com.

The Solong had been due to travel to Rotterdam in the Netherlands after departing from Grangemouth in Scotland this morning, Marinetraffic.com shows.

Moving images on the tracking site suggest the oil tanker had remained stationary as the Solong headed straight towards it before the collision.

It is believed the Stena Immaculate, which was travelling from Greece to the UK, was anchored at the time.

David McFarlane, director Maritime Risk and Safety Consultants, told Sky News it can take up to an hour to raise an anchor - meaning the tanker might not have had time to get out of the way.

It comes as Mr Boyers said the container ship may have been on autopilot at the time of the crash.

"Autopilot just steers a course, they don't deviate, there's no bend in the sea," he added.

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The American Maritime Officers union has said the tanker was part of a programme to have 10 ships capable of transporting oil for the US army in "times of need".

The group said the Stena Immaculate was reflagged in August 2023 as part of a programme by the US Department of Defence and the US Maritime Administration.

They would continue commercial operations but could be chartered by the US government on a short-term basis.

The Stena Immaculate was on a short-term charter to the US navy's Military Sealift Command at the time of the incident, a US military spokesperson confirmed.

'Too early to assess environmental damage'

Meanwhile, visibility in the area had been poor before the collision this morning, according to the Met Office.

"Areas of fog and low cloud lifting as winds increase through the morning, with some warm, if rather hazy sunny spells expected in places for a time," it said this morning.

"Thicker cloud and a little rain moving southwards during the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14C."

Greenpeace UK said the high speed of the collision and the footage of the aftermath "are cause for great concern".

A spokesperson for the charity said: "At this stage, it's too early to assess the extent of any environmental damage."

Scientists said the environmental impact might be less severe than with a spill of heavier crude oil.

Mark Sephton, professor of organic geochemistry at Imperial College London, said jet fuel biodegrades more quickly than crude oil, and warmer temperatures also speeds biodegradation.

"In the end, it all depends on the rate of introduction of fuel and the rate of destruction by bacteria," he said.

"Let's hope the latter wins out."

(c) Sky News 2025: Oil tanker and cargo ship on fire after colliding off coast of East Yorkshire