AS emergency services raced to contain the huge fireball that erupted over the North Sea, mystery swirled about what could have caused the horror collision.
Steering a path through heavy fog, the container ship Solong pummelled full speed into the side of the US tanker Stena Immaculate yesterday off the coast of Yorkshire.
X/TessaronnewsShocking pictures show how flames ripped through an oil tanker yesterday[/caption]
BBCEmergency services rushed to the scene[/caption]
APNew pictures show the damage caused by the direct hit[/caption]
It has sparked a desperate battle to contain the disaster, which may yet turn into an environmental catastrophe, with both ships carrying goods that pose an immense threat to local wildlife.
Remarkably, all but one of the crew from both vessels managed to survive after a mayday call was sent out.
But as the fire continued to burn overnight, glaring questions are starting to be asked – over what could happen next, and how such a devastating collision happened in an age of cutting-edge navigation technology.
Here, we look at the questions that must be answered before we can understand what really happened.
How did the crew make it off?
Data from MarineTraffic shows that the collision between the vessels happened shortly after 9.45am.
Almost immediately, both ships’ captains ordered their crews to abandon ship.
Despite their immense size, neither ship, fortunately, had a huge number of crew members.
The Solong had 14 members on board, while the Stena Immaculate had 23 on board.
By a miracle, almost all crew members from both ships made it out alive, aside from one member of the Solong, who it is believed is lost to the North Sea.
They faced not only the cold waters of the ocean, but the raging fire and potentially toxic fumes.
It has been reported that a number of the crew had been brought ashore by a commercial catamaran, followed by a couple of harbour pilot boats.
Dr Seyedvahid Vakili, a maritime expert from the University of Southampton, explained that the crew were likely able to save time and make a quick evacuation thanks to clear drill procedures, and the decision to not try and fight the raging fire.
“The crew would have to be familiar with what their duties are when they have to abandon ship. They will have conducted a series of drills and be familiar with different emergency scenarios”, he said.
“As I understand, they didn’t try to extinguish the fire, because of the nature of the cargo, which was very explosive and toxic. So the master would have directly ordered abandonment.
Nonetheless, it remains extremely lucky that almost all of the crew members were able to survive such a massive collision.
Was foul play involved?
The anchored Stena Immaculate was carrying US military fuel, which has led to questions over whether the collision is an act by a hostile power.
A senior White House official has refused to rule out the possibility that the systems onboard the Solong could have been hacked, turning it into a kind of spear that was steamed directly towards the US ship.
BBCAerial images show the extent of damage to the North Sea vessel[/caption]
GettyFire and rescue services attend the collision off the coast of the Humber Estuary[/caption]
GettyThe incident followed a collision between oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate and the cargo vessel MV Solong[/caption]
States such as Russia have in the past proved that they are more than capable of using cyber tactics as a threat of force.
“Cyber attacks are one of the biggest threats for vessels, going into the future,” explained Dr Vakili.
“They are usually a threat for unmanned vessels, which are digitalised and controlled from the shore. But at this stage, for this vessel, I do not believe a cyber attack could be the main reason for the collision, as I do not know how much of the vessel was automated.
“So more likely, it is a case of human error – but it is still of the main threats to the shipping industry, as digitalisation and automation increases onboard vessels.”
But given how bizarre and unusual such a collision like this is, foul play is by no means implausible – especially given how direct a hit this was.
Why didn’t the autopilot work?
The sea conditions at the time of the collision have been described as reasonable, aside from the haze and smog – but this is nothing ships can’t deal with.
The Solong is believed to have been on autopilot, but these systems are designed to spot obstacles such as other ships and correct their course in time.
Yet it remains unclear why these systems onboard the Solong didn’t work.
When autopilot is used, a course is programmed and the ship will follow – though numerous alarms and warnings on the ship’s bridge would have sounded at the threat of a collision.
PAThe Stena Immaculate oil tanker sustained a ruptured cargo tank[/caption]
VesselFinderMV Solong was carrying highly toxic sodium cyanide[/caption]
“It seems a mystery, really, because all the vessels now have very highly sophisticated technical equipment to plot courses and to look at any obstacles or anything they’ve got to avoid,” said Martyn Boyers, the chief executive of the nearby Port of Grimsby East.
“It’s difficult to suggest what went on, other than the fact it should never have happened,” he added.
This suggests that human error could be to blame for the collision – though the idea that the crew simply ignored, or never noticed, the warnings, would be extraordinary.
Only a comprehensive investigation will reveal the truth, explains Dr Vakili.
“Each vessel has a voice data recorder – similar to a black box from an airplane. Investigators will be able to see all the actions which will have been taken, all the communication.”
Dr Vakili believes that human error remains the likely cause, adding that container vessels are particularly susceptible to this due to the pressure placed on the crew.
“One of the main reasons for human error might be fatigue, especially for container vessels.This is because they visit many ports in a short period of time. This is especially the case in the North Sea, and in Northern Europe, as the distance between the main ports is very short.
“The investigation will consider if the crew had appropriately rested, and if they were fit to take watch.”
He also added that the subsequent investigation will also look at the environmental conditions at the time.
“Did they have restricted visibility? What was the sea condition, and the current? Container ships are also very sensitive to wind speed, due to their high windage area, especially at low speeds,” he explained.
“Traffic density in the area should also be analysed, as these anchorage areas are often crowded with vessels and will have some vessels manoeuvring, increasing the risk of accident.”
How much oil will leak – and can they remove it in time?
Should all 18,000 tonnes of oil on board the Stena Immaculate leak, it would rank as one of the largest oil spills in British history.
And the rescue teams face a race against time to clean up what has already spilt, as it’s been confirmed that fuel has entered the water.
UN Maritime Security Leader Chris Reynolds has warned that crews face a “very short window” to remove the oil, before the environmental threat it poses increases.
He explained that any leaked oil could emulsify, reaching the coast as oil emulsion, a form of oil which could have a “devastating effect” on the wildlife.
Now that the search and rescue stage is over, crews will be focusing on this clean-up.
However, given the relatively short distance from the coast, it may not be long until oil begins to come ashore.
Dr Vakili added that not only is the environment threatened by the toxic cargo, but the ships’s own propulsion fuel.
“Both vessels have been abandoned and are on fire. Due to structural damage, and the fact that they are burning, their structures will be weakened,” he said.
“The fuel that was used for the vessels’ main propulsion, rather than their cargo, may also leak and lead to environmental damage.”
What could happen to the environment?
Scientists, conservationists, and wildlife experts are already sounding the alarm over the threat this collision poses to the environment.
Jet fuel, which the Stena Immaculate was carrying, is more toxic to marine life than other kinds of oil, such as diesel or crude oil.
Fortunately, the chemical make up of jet fuel makes it easier for bacteria to break it down, which it is hoped will soften any impact, and avoid clogging the features of birds.
Nonetheless, it still remains extremely toxic and poisonous – threatening the local wildlife, including seabirds, fish and seals.
The coast near the collision site is home to England’s largest gannet colony, and is also home to large colonies of puffins and grey seals, which are currently in pup-rearing season.
Conservation charities will currently be watching with bated breath to see if the disaster can be contained – and catastrophe can be avoided.
How long will it take to salvage the ships?
Questions will soon be asked over how long the remains of the vessels will be left floating before they can be safely salvaged.
Floating debris can be an extremely dangerous collision threat to passing ships, but crews face a number of factors before they can move in.
“We cannot give a time frame, because it depends on the situation, the environmental conditions, the equipment which is used, the expertise of the team – and the manufacturers also play a role,” explained Dr Vakili.
Safety is paramount, so it must be ensured that any fire is completely extinguished, which, given the nature of the fuel, is no easy task.
The force of the collision will also have severely damaged the structures of both ships, potentially leaking further fuel, and making the structures dangerous to board.
GettyThe RNLI took part in rescue operations that saw 32 people were reportedly brought ashore[/caption]
GettyCrew members from Bridlington RNLI return to the lifeboat station after being involved in the rescue op[/caption]
Once the fire is out, however, the challenge of ensuring the vessels are safe remains – given the extremely toxic cargo that’s on board.
Eventually, both ships will be salvaged and removed from the area – but just how long this will take is impossible to say.
“The main thing that should be taken into consideration is the safety of the personnel. So the salvage operation will be postponed until it is safe,” said Dr Vakili.
“There was a similar accident in 2018, when the oil tanker Sanchi collided with another ship – though in this case both vessels were underway. The Sanchi’s cargo was very similar to the Stena Immaculate’s, as it was light and highly flammable oil.
“It exploded, and it took a few weeks to control and extinguish the water and the fire.”
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