Trade experts have called for “lessons to be learned” after a collision yesterday (10 March), between two vessels in the North Sea, left one sailor missing, threatened to cause an “environmental disaster” and threatened supply chain disruption.
The MV Stena Immaculate and the Solong crashed into each other off the coast of East Yorkshire. Both ships are reportedly still afloat, with videos circulating of the Immaculate showing extensive damage but with no visible fires.
Florida-based maritime logistics firm Crowley confirmed that the Stena ship, which the company manages, sustained a ruptured fuel tank during the collision, resulting in both the release of fuel and a fire breaking out.
Sailor welfare
The BBC reported that 32 sailors had been brought ashore, with one being hospitalised.
One crew member is “unaccounted for”, with the UK coastguard saying that the search had ended without any evidence of the missing person.
Transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said she was liaising with officials and the coastguard as the situation developed.
Humber halted
Shipping movements from Humber port, operated by Associated British Ports (ABP), were suspended yesterday but have since resumed.
A spokesperson for ABP confirmed that shipping movements from Humber remained restricted and that the situation is being monitored.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch, an agency of the transport department, has deployed investigators on-site.
Lessons need to be learned
The North Sea is one of the “world’s busiest shipping channels”, said Marco Forgione, the director general of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, on Sky News.
“With highly integrated supply chains and shipping routes, it is unfortunately a reality that there is a risk of such instances.”
He referenced the Baltimore bridge incident last year, where the vessel Dali hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland, as well as the ongoing Suez Canal crisis and the Panama Canal’s struggles due to climate change.
“So, in a world where we are increasingly reliant on highly fragile global integrated supply chains, I think it’s really important that lessons are learnt from this.”
Environmental impact
The Stena Immaculate reportedly was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel at the time of the incident.
Melanie Onn, Labour MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, told BBC’s Today programme that she was waiting for confirmation of whether the chemical sodium cyanide was on board.
Greenpeace said they have “serious concerns about the threat to marine life posed by the cargoes and bunker fuel” on both vessels.
Dr Paul Johnston, a senior scientist at the Greenpeace Research Laboratories at Exeter University, said that the jet fuel and chemicals carried by both could cause serious harm to local habitats:
“Any release of bunker fuel could also pose serious risks to nearby nature sanctuaries.
“Authorities need to urgently assess the situation and put in place measures to contain the release of jet fuel and any other toxic substances from the two vessels where possible. We must hope an environmental disaster can be averted.”
Impact
Xeneta’s chief analyst, Peter Sand, told the Loadstar that the collision was “unlikely to have a significant impact on port operations or shipping networks”.
“It is vitally important that the industry works together to learn lessons from this incident once the cause is fully investigated and understood,” he added.
