New images of North Sea crash as MAIB report reveals ships had no 'lookouts'
Investigators have released fresh images of the moment a cargo ship collided with a tanker in the North Sea.
The pictures show flames erupting on board the US-flagged fuel tanker the Stena Immaculate and the Portuguese Solong container ship after explosions caused by the collision about 12 miles of the East Yorkshire coast.
One man remains missing presumed dead following the incident on 10 March.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) published the images in an interim report which said neither vessel had a "dedicated lookout" and visibility was "patchy" at the time.
The report said: “The visibility in the area north of the Humber light float was reported to be patchy and varying between 0.25 nautical miles (nm) and 2.0nm.
“Neither Solong nor Stena Immaculate had a dedicated lookout on the bridge.”
It added: “At [7am], Solong’s master returned to the bridge and took over the watch as the lone watchkeeper.”
The crash, which happened at 9.47am, caused large fires on both vessels.
The man feared dead is Filipino national Mark Pernia.
The Stena Immaculate was approaching the Humber Estuary on 9 March when it was directed to anchor in an area with eight other vessels.
The Solong was sailing from Grangemouth, Scotland, to Rottterdam in the Netherlands.
The report said Solong “altered course” at around 1.30am to a heading of 150 degrees, which is a south-east direction.
It maintained this course until the crash except for a “slight deviation” at 3.45am.
Solong was travelling at a speed of about 16 knots when it hit Stena Immaculate, the MAIB said.
The report described how the crews of both vessels took “immediate action”.
It went on: “Attempts by Stena Immaculate’s crew to fight the fire, and for Solong’s crew to locate the missing able seaman, were hampered by the severity of the fire.
“Both Stena Immaculate and Solong’s crew abandoned to lifeboats and were subsequently recovered by the efforts of local boats and emergency responders, coordinated by His Majesty’s Coastguard.”
The MAIB said its investigation will analyse “the navigation and watchkeeping practices on board both vessels” and “manning and fatigue management”.
It will also look at the condition and maintenance of the vessels involved, the use of the offshore area as an anchorage for vessels waiting to enter the Humber Estuary, and environmental conditions.
The Solong was towed to Aberdeen.
Its captain, Vladimir Motin, 59, from St Petersburg, Russia, appeared at the Old Bailey charged with gross negligence manslaughter and was remanded in custody.
He is due to stand trial in January 2026.