Overview

• The captain of the Portuguese-flagged MV Solong, a 59-year-old Russian national, has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.
• The collision occurred on Monday morning when the MV Solong struck the anchored US-flagged Stena Immaculate, carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel for US military use.
• The crash resulted in fires on both ships; while the Stena Immaculate's fire has been extinguished, the Solong continues to burn and drift in the North Sea.
• One crew member from the Solong is missing and presumed dead after search and rescue efforts were called off due to low survival chances.
• Inspection reports from July 2024 revealed that the Solong had failed multiple safety checks, including issues with emergency steering and fire doors.