The collision between two large transport ships in the North Sea raises questions about how such events occur and what their effects are. Here’s what we know so far.
what happened?
Stena Immaculate, a US-character oil tanker, was anchored in the North Sea, about 13 miles from Yorkshire coast.
Solon was moving at a speed of 16 knots (18 mph) when he collided with the tanker, causing a “gigantic fireball” as he had a scramble evacuated both ships.
According to Crowley, a US maritime company that manages the tankers, Stena Immaculate carried 220,000 barrels of jet fuel to 16 isolated cargo tanks. At least one cargo tank carrying Jet A-1 fuel had burst and leaked into the North Sea, he said.
Solon was initially reported to have carried containers of the highly toxic chemical sodium cyanide, but the vessel’s owner, Ernst Rath, later said none of the toxins were on board.
The 59-year-old Russian master Solon was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of gross negligence and manslaughter as Humberside police launched a criminal investigation. His nationality was confirmed by Ernst Rath, and stated that Solon’s crew was a mixed Russian and Filipino.
Was the foul play involved?
The main focus of the investigation is how two modern ships equipped with advanced radar technology collide in seemingly mild weather conditions.
White House officials reportedly amplify speculation that Stena Immaculate may have been intentionally targeted as he was carrying cargo for the US military, and told a US news outlet that they could not eliminate foul plays.
The UK handed down this theory on Tuesday. The initial investigation found no evidence suggesting such a motive. British Minister of Transport Mike Kane told MPS “something was grossly wrong,” but “I think it’s speculation if there was a foul play. There’s no evidence to suggest that at this point.”
Are human errors liable?
Maritime traffic data showed that Solon traveled directly towards Stena’s pure white without changing course before the ship collided.
Anditydale, a marine safety advisor to the Institute for Marine Engineering and Science and Technology, said the tracking data showed Solon, who was sailing under the Portuguese flag, that something was “potentially wrong.”
The core to understanding this is to retrieve the Navigation Data Recorder (VDR) from both ships. VDRs, often referred to as transport, equivalent to the “black box” of an airplane, hold data on container speed, depth under the keel, radio communications, bridge audio, and radar data.
Teasdale said all those rescued will be interviewed and given preventive medication and alcohol testing.
Dr. Seyedvahid Vakili of the University of Southampton said that at this stage it is “hard to determine the main cause of a conflict,” but in most cases “human factors play a key role.”
Jin Wang, a professor of marine technology at Liverpool John Moores University, said that human error likely “played a critical role,” and that “it seems unlikely that all the factors leading to conflicts of this nature could have occurred simultaneously without human error.”
Is a technical accident a problem?
Tiago Alves, a professor at the School of Global Environmental Sciences at Cardiff University, is one of theories that for security reasons, Stena’s immaculate might have been “radar silent” at the time.
This may make it undetectable on nearby vessel screens and may not trigger the proper Solon alarm. But it will be visible to the naked eye from afar.
Alves said: “The oil tankers are under seemingly under military missions and may have been unexpectedly discovered in areas not common to ships to Moore. The tankers are currently listed on vesselfinder.com (the ship’s tracking website), but there could also have been radar silent during the collision for security reasons. Only a thorough investigation would reach a final conclusion about what happened.”
However, other experts downplayed this theory, noting that Stena Immaculate appears to have an automatic identification system (AIS) turned on in the event of a collision. This would have allowed us to see it on other nearby ships.
Another idea is that the Solon autopilot function failed. Martin Boyers, chief executive of Grimsby East Port near the location of the collision, said he suspected Solon was on the autopilot.
What risks does cargo on a ship pose?
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said jet fuel is toxic to marine life.
However, experts were optimistic that the extremely unstable fuel that blew out on Monday would soon burn out or evaporate. The relatively small hydrocarbons found in fuels can also degrade bacteria, according to Mark Sephton, professor of organic geochemistry at Imperial College London.
Thick bunker oil used to move on the ship may be more problematic. Persistent oils such as marine diesel can choke marine habitats, affecting the ability of wildlife to regulate body temperature and killing them, said Dr. Alex Lukanov of the University of Reading.
What impact will it have on the environment?
Dr. Tom Webb, a lecturer in marine ecology at the University of Sheffield, said the ship collided just east of the Yorkshire Coast and the mouth of the Humber Estuary.
“When you move between wintering and breeding grounds, Yorkshire’s iconic seabirds quickly move, and you’ll find a huge collection of birds and waterfowls.
A coastal marine protected area near the collision site is home to the head of Flambola and the marine reserve off the coast of Holderness. Furthermore, out into the sea are special conservation areas of the North Sea, which are important for the rats in the port.
“We are committed to providing a great opportunity to help you,” said Dr. Leslie Mabon, Senior Lecturer for Environmental Systems at Open University. Similarly, there are dolphins and stickers.
“This is also a rich fishing environment, and if the Grimsby fishing port is nearby and fishing must be stopped or reduced, there could be economic consequences.”
