My first gut reaction to any maritime incident is it's an accident because I know how quickly things can go wrong out here. I'm going to reserve judgement on this one until we know more.

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US Merchant Marine Oil Tanker In Flames Off UK
John Konrad

March 10, 2025

Off the East Yorkshire coast, a grave incident is unfolding where the U.S.-flagged oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate loaded with jet fuel, a ship designated critical to US national security in the Department of Transportation’s Tanker Security Program (TSP), was struck while at anchor by the Portuguese-flagged containership MV Solong. The collision has set both vessels ablaze, triggering extensive search and rescue operations. The crews have abandoned both ships. While initial reports suggest all U.S. Merchant Mariners are reportedly safe in lifeboats, one crew member from the Solong remains unaccounted for.

“It appears that Solong did not slow down or maneuver. It rammed straight into the side of Stena Immaculate,” said maritime historian Sal Mercogliano in a video analyzing the AIS ship tracks.

The Stena Immaculate is one of only ten vessels enrolled in the DOT’s TSP, which provides essential ships for the Department of Defense. Neither Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy nor Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has issued a statement. The vessel is one of three tankers operated in the TSP by Crowley-Stena Marine Solutions, a joint venture between US-based Crowley, which manages the vessel, and Stena Bulk USA.

The Stena Immaculate was anchored off the Humber Estuary when the Solong struck it at 9:48 a.m. on Monday. The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency is coordinating the emergency response with search and rescue helicopters from Humberside and lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe, and Cleethorpes. A fixed-wing aircraft and nearby vessels with firefighting capabilities are also supporting the operation.

Crowley provided the following statement to gCaptain:

“At approximately 10 a.m. UTC/ 5 a.m. EST on March 10, 2025, while anchored off the North Sea coast near Hull, United Kingdom, the Crowley-managed tanker Stena Immaculate was struck by the container ship Solong.

“The Stena Immaculate sustained a ruptured cargo tank containing Jet-A1 fuel due to the allision. A fire occurred as a result of the allision, and fuel was reported released. The Stena Immaculate crew abandoned the vessel following multiple explosions onboard. All Crowley mariners are safe and fully accounted for.

“Crowley immediately initiated its emergency vessel response plan and is actively working with public agencies to contain the fire and secure the vessel.

“Our first priority is the safety of the people and environment. We will provide more updates as information becomes available,” the statement said.

“It appears that Solong just straight and straight out rammed into the side of Stena Immaculate,” said maritime historian Sal Mercogliano in a video analysing the AIS ship tracks.

All U.S. Merchant Mariners aboard the Stena Immaculate have been accounted for and are safely in lifeboats. However, preliminary reports indicate one crew member from Solong has been reported missing.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation, with a senior U.S. official at the White House telling gCaptain that foul play has not been ruled out.

The Tanker Security Program, established to ensure a core fleet of U.S.-based product tankers are available for the U.S. Department of Defense needs, only has ten ships enrolled. With over 7,500 oil tankers worldwide, the chances of an incident on one of the ten TSP tankers critical to Department of Defense operations and the US Navy are remarkably low.


The scarcity of U.S.-flagged tankers underscores the vulnerability of the nation’s strategic maritime assets. This was likely an accident but with global oil tanker incidents resulting in spills reduced to fewer than ten per year, the likelihood of such a catastrophic event involving a TSP vessel is alarmingly low, making this incident suspicious.?

The Stena Immaculate is an oil tanker sailing under the US flag. Built in 2017, the eight-year-old ship has a carrying capacity of 49,000 tons, with an overall length of 183 meters (600 feet) and a width of 32 meters. She’s owned by Swedish Marine Services and was built in China. DNV is her classification society, and she’s underwritten by the Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates as gCaptain continues to investigate.

https://gcaptain.com/us-mercha...er-in-flames-off-uk/

Very interesting. I'll be watching this closely.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
She’s owned by Swedish Marine Services and was built in China . DNV is her classification society, and she’s underwritten by the Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association.

https://gcaptain.com/us-mercha...er-in-flames-off-uk/

This has to stop.

We are in a buildup to a war with China, similar to 1939-1941 Japan, and we are cluelessly buying shit from them and making it so more Americans will end up dead.

I try my hardest not to buy anything made in China if possible, it’s actually not that hard (short of some electronics and other things, but clothes, major consumables and other household needs can eliminate China almost entirely.)

Farewell, Solong.

Was waiting for that. Still funny.

^^

I LOLd.

For the record, I waited over two hours, both crews are accounted for with one person hospitalized, before I decided I probably have the most appropriate username for it. Since it was once a German flagged vessel and I have to go pick my son up, I bid y’all auf Wiedersehen.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
Farewell, Solong.

Many of the Mariners on the Stena ship were members of the American Maritime Officers union, same as me. We received this message today. No real new information, but I felt i would share anyway.

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All Stena Immaculate Crewmembers Safe, Ashore After Tanker Was Struck While at Anchor by Containership off UK East Coast

The U.S.-flagged tanker Stena Immaculate was struck while at anchor by the 459-foot Portuguese-flagged containership M/V Solong at 0948 UTC off the east coast of the United Kingdom. No injuries were reported among the 23 crewmembers of the Stena Immaculate after all had been brought ashore from the site of the incident, where both ships were burning in the North Sea.

The Stena Immaculate is operated in the Tanker Security Program fleet under contract with American Maritime Officers and the Seafarers International Union through a joint venture between Crowley and Stena Bulk USA. The crew includes one engineering officer represented by the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association working under a pass-through agreement.

"We are incredibly grateful all crewmembers from the Stena Immaculate are safe, ashore and accounted for after this terrible incident," said AMO National President Willie Barrere. "We're going to continue working with all involved in the operation of the Immaculate and we will provide an update once more details are available."

The tanker was carrying jet fuel when it was struck by the M/V Solong. Rescue helicopters and numerous support vessels were deployed to the scene. According to a report posted by the BBC, 36 mariners in total "across both crews" were evaluated, accounted for and safe. BBC sources provided conflicting information as to whether one mariner from the Solong was hospitalized.

Based on AIS data, the M/V Solong appeared to be traveling at approximately 16 knots when it allided with the Stena Immaculate at anchor.

The following statement was released by Crowley.

"At approximately 10 a.m. UTC/5 a.m. EST on March 10, 2025, while anchored off the North Sea coast near Hull, United Kingdom, the Crowley-managed tanker Stena Immaculate was struck by the container ship Solong.

"The Stena Immaculate sustained a ruptured cargo tank containing Jet-A1 fuel due to the allision. A fire occurred as a result of the allision, and fuel was reported released. The Stena Immaculate crew abandoned the vessel following multiple explosions onboard. All Crowley mariners are safe and fully accounted for.

"Crowley immediately initiated its emergency vessel response plan and is actively working with public agencies to contain the fire and secure the vessel. Our first priority is the safety of the people and environment. We will provide more updates as information becomes available."

https://amo-union.benchurl.com...TWY9nNPuw6lIV&relid=

“Allision”.

I learned a new word on the forum today.

Solong and thanks for all the fish

^^^

clever

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
“Allision”.

I learned a new word on the forum today.

It's the precise term for this incident. Not wildly used away from the maritime industry, but it is the correct nomenclature here. "Collision" would not be accurate.

What’s up with shipping on YT showed the Solong’s track.

Zero or speed course deviation from previous trips. Solong didn’t even slow before plowing into Stella. Mind, Stella inadvertently anchored right on Solong’s usual track.

Sure looks like the bridge watch was asleep, texting, or otherwise fucking off.

quote:

Originally posted by Sig2340:

Sure looks like the bridge watch was asleep, texting, or otherwise fucking off.

More common than people would be comfortable knowing. Letting Iron Mike run the ship with a lone bridge-watch is pretty standard in most parts of the world.
Will be very interesting to see what will come of the Master of MV Solong

The bridge watch was most certainly asleep at the wheel. She left Scotland and put on her familiar course to Rotterdam, no question on Autopilot. She was on a beeline for many hours and drove straight into the Immaculate.



Sal from What's Going On In Shipping breaks down the track. His report was from when the first news broke, so over 10 hours old but still relevant.

This video appears to me to be more likely from one of the forward facing staterooms below the bridge.

What language is that?

https://x.com/mercoglianos/status/1899520911818006669