On Monday, a significant maritime incident occurred off the eastern coast of the United Kingdom, specifically in the North Sea near the city of Hull. At 9:48 a.m. (UTC/GMT), a cargo ship collided with an oil tanker, resulting in a large fire erupting on both vessels and necessitating a large-scale rescue operation. Graham Stuart, a local lawmaker, reported that 37 crew members from the two ships were successfully brought ashore, with one individual requiring hospitalization. Initial reports had indicated that 32 people were injured.

The response to the emergency was comprehensive, involving lifeboats, firefighting vessels, a helicopter, and a fixed-wing aircraft. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution confirmed that several individuals had abandoned the vessels due to the collision and subsequent fires.

The oil tanker involved in the collision was identified as the MV Stena Immaculate, a US-flagged chemical and oil products carrier managed by Crowley. At the time of the incident, the Stena Immaculate was carrying jet fuel. Crowley issued a statement explaining that the Stena Immaculate was anchored off the North Sea coast near Hull when it was struck by the container ship Solong. The impact resulted in a ruptured cargo tank containing Jet-A1 fuel, leading to multiple explosions and the crew's decision to abandon the vessel.

The other vessel involved was the Solong, a Portugal-flagged container ship owned by the German shipping company Reederei Koepping. The Solong was en route from Grangemouth in Scotland to Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

The British Maritime and Coastguard agency is actively coordinating the emergency response, focusing on reports of the collision off the coast of East Yorkshire. A coast guard spokesperson stated that an assessment of the likely counter pollution response is underway.

Greenpeace has acknowledged the incident, stating that it is currently too early to determine the extent of any necessary cleanup efforts. The environmental group emphasized that the magnitude of any impact will depend on various factors, including the amount and type of oil carried by the tanker, the fuel carried by both ships, and the quantity of any released substances that have entered the water.

The International Maritime Organization, the UN's shipping agency, is also aware of the situation and is monitoring developments.