An oil tanker and a cargo ship collided off the eastern coast of England, resulting in both vessels catching fire and prompting an extensive rescue operation, according to emergency services. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency in Britain reported the deployment of multiple lifeboats, a coastguard rescue helicopter, and a coastguard aircraft to the North Sea incident, alongside nearby vessels equipped for firefighting efforts.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) indicated that several individuals had evacuated the ships post-collision, with fires reported on both vessels. Three lifeboats were actively involved in search and rescue operations in conjunction with the coastguard.
The tanker involved is thought to be the U.S.-flagged MV Stena Immaculate, which was anchored at the time of the incident. The cargo ship, named Solong, was en route from Grangemouth, Scotland, to Rotterdam, Netherlands. The alarm for the collision was raised at approximately 9.48am (8.48pm AEDT), and the collision occurred near Hull, around 250 kilometres north of London.
The authorities continue to manage the situation, ensuring the safety of all involved as investigations into the cause of the collision proceed.