A US-flagged oil tanker and Portuguese cargo ship have caught fire following a collision in the North Sea off Lincolnshire's coast, Sky News reported Monday. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) dispatched four crews to the emergency scene after the incident was reported shortly before 9:50 a.m.
According to Sky News, the RNLI indicated that several crew members reportedly abandoned the vessels after the collision. The lifeboat service responded by sending rescue teams from multiple coastal stations to assist in what appears to be a significant maritime emergency.
A coastguard helicopter departed from Humberside toward the collision site alongside lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Maplethorpe and Cleethorpes. Additional response resources included an HM Coastguard fixed-wing aircraft and nearby vessels with firefighting capabilities. All of the US-flagged oil tanker crew are accounted for and safe, Reuters reported.
32 people injured in the maritime incident were transported to shore according to Sky News. Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, confirmed the casualty count but provided no details about the severity of injuries among those rescued from the vessels.
The oil tanker has been identified as the Stena Immaculate, sailing under a US flag, while the cargo vessel is named Solong and operates under a Portuguese flag, Marinetraffic.com revealed. The website further classified the US-flagged vessel as an "oil/chemical tanker," suggesting potential hazardous materials could be involved in the incident.
HM Coastguard confirmed it is coordinating the emergency response efforts to the maritime collision. The management company of the oil tanker involved in the collision has confirmed that the vessel leaked jet fuel into the North Sea, Bloomberg reported. However, the full extent of injuries, environmental impact, and damage to the vessels remains unclear as rescue operations continue in the North Sea.
BREAKING:
Major maritime disaster off the coast of Hull, England after a collision between a cargo ship and an oil tanker.
The fire can be seen from miles away pic.twitter.com/WiaX0rUHGR
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 10, 2025
Maritime safety experts note that collisions between large vessels, especially those carrying potentially flammable materials like oil or chemicals, present significant risks to crew members and can lead to environmental contamination if containment efforts aren't swiftly implemented.
The North Sea, a heavily trafficked shipping route connecting the United Kingdom with continental Europe and beyond, has seen numerous maritime incidents throughout its history. This latest collision highlights the ongoing dangers faced by commercial shipping operations even in well-regulated waters.
Authorities have not yet released information about what may have caused the two vessels to collide in what appears to have been favorable weather conditions. Investigation into the incident will likely focus on navigation protocols, communication between the vessels, and whether mechanical failures contributed to the accident.
Local environmental agencies are expected to monitor the situation closely for any signs of oil or chemical leakage that could affect marine ecosystems and coastal communities along the Lincolnshire shoreline.
