Shipowners Involved In Deadly North Sea Collision Begin Legal Battle

A legal battle has begun after a serious collision between a container ship and a tanker in the North Sea.

The incident happened on March 10, when the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong crashed into the anchored US-registered tanker Stena Immaculate about 16 miles off the East Yorkshire coast.

The tanker, which was carrying aviation fuel, caught fire after the collision, resulting in the loss of 17,515 barrels of jet fuel.

On April 3, the owners and demise charterers of the Solong filed a legal claim at the Admiralty Court in London against the owners and demise charterers of Stena Immaculate.

This legal claim comes just days after a separate claim was filed on March 31, by the tanker’s co-owners, Stena Bulk and Crowley, against the container ship’s owner Ernst Russ.

A spokesperson from Ernst Russ confirmed the filing and described it as “a usual process for large maritime casualties.” The company also stated that it continues to support ongoing investigations.

After the crash, Ernst Russ also confirmed that it had set up a fund in preparation for any verified legal claims that may be made against it.

Video Credits: On Demand News/YouTube

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) released an interim report on April 3, highlighting that neither vessel had a dedicated lookout at the time of the collision.

According to the report, the second officer on Stena Immaculate had started anchor watch just before midnight and was on a 12-hour duty.

On the Solong, the ship’s master returned to the bridge around 7 a.m. and was the only person on watch when the ships collided at 9:47 a.m.

The MAIB also noted that visibility in the area was patchy at the time of the incident.

In response, Crowley, the operator of the Stena Immaculate, said the vessel was anchored and operating in compliance with all relevant safety regulations and company policies.

The company added that it believes a full investigation will confirm that it exercised proper vigilance and followed anchor watch procedures correctly.

A total of 36 crew members were rescued from both ships after the crash and the fires that followed. But unfortunately, a Filipino national, Mark Pernia, serving aboard Solong, is missing and feared dead.

He was reported to be in the forward section of the container ship at the time of the impact.

The captain of Solong, 59-year-old Vladimir Motin from St. Petersburg, Russia, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter. He is scheduled to stand trial in January 2026.

Investigations are ongoing, and further details are expected once a full report is released by authorities.

References: BBC, The Standard

Source: Maritime Shipping News