On Tuesday, British authorities apprehended the captain of a cargo ship involved in a collision with a tanker in the North Sea, under allegations of gross negligence manslaughter.
The incident occurred on Monday when the Portuguese-flagged vessel, the Solong, struck the anchored US tanker Stena Immaculate near the east coast of Yorkshire.
The tanker, chartered by the US military, was transporting jet fuel at the time of the accident.
The collision resulted in a significant fire, and one crew member is currently unaccounted for, presumed dead.
A criminal investigation has been initiated.
The 59-year-old captain was taken into custody by Humberside police in northeast England.
Shipping company Ernst Russ confirmed in a statement that the captain of the Solong has been detained in the UK.
"The captain and our entire team are fully cooperating with the investigations," the statement noted.
Humberside Police announced that they, along with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, have commenced a criminal inquiry to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The UK coastguard reported that a tow line has been secured to the Solong, positioning it offshore in a safer location, while the environmental impact is still being evaluated.
An initial evaluation indicated that the ship might not remain buoyant; however, Transport Minister Heidi Alexander stated on Tuesday that neither vessel is at risk of sinking.
The Stena Immaculate is currently anchored with safety tugboats, according to the coastguard, which reported that the fire has significantly diminished and no flames are visible.
Crowley, the maritime company overseeing the Stena Immaculate, noted that it is still uncertain how much Jet A1 fuel was released following the collision with the Solong. However, preliminary assessments suggest that the fuel has evaporated due to the fires affecting both ships.
Authorities are prepared to deploy equipment to mitigate potential marine pollution, including oil spill dispersants and containment booms, if necessary, as stated by the British government.
The coastguard has established a one-kilometer (0.62 mile) exclusion zone around both vessels.
