Earlier this month, the Portuguese cargo vessel Solong collided with an oil tanker in the North Sea, resulting in explosions and fires that have now been put out. The damaged ship has been dragged to Aberdeen.
A cargo vessel that crashed into a US oil tanker in the North Sea reached the Scottish harbor of Aberdeen on Friday.
After a voyage aided by tugs that spanned several days, the Portuguese vessel Solong arrived in Aberdeen for secure docking and evaluation of damages.
The ship was damaged following a collision on March 10 with an anchored tanker, the MV Stena Immaculate, leading to a fire that burned for almost a week.
Solong’s Russian captain accused of gross negligence manslaughter
The captain of Solong, Vladimir M., who is Russian,
has faced charges for negligent homicide.
Rescue teams managed to save 36 crew members from both vessels; however, one sailor—a 38-year-old Filipino named Mark Angelo Pernia—remains unaccounted for and is feared deceased.
The recovery efforts for the Solong have advanced enough to allow its transfer to the Port of Aberdeen for secure docking,” stated Chief Coast Guard Paddy O’Callaghan. “Meanwhile, the Stena Immaculate continues to remain stable as rescue operations continue.
A representative from Ernt Russ, the firm that owns the Solong, stated that the vessel, which has been hit by a fire, will undergo a comprehensive evaluation by specialized maritime assessors and insurance experts in Aberdeen.
Environmental concerns following collision
The 59-year-old Vladimir M. is scheduled to appear at the Central Criminal Court in London on April 14.
The authorities in the United Kingdom have stated that there is no evidence linking the crash to national security concerns; however, investigations continue.
The extent of environmental harm caused by the collision has turned out to be not as severe as initially believed. However, countless tiny plastic pellets, referred to as nurdles, which escaped from damaged containers aboard the Solong, are now beginning to appear on the shores along eastern England’s coastline.
Conservation experts state that the nurdles are non-toxic but can be harmful if consumed by wildlife. Authorities locally are making efforts to clean up these tiny pellets.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar
