What was the nationality of the captain of the cargo ship involved in the collision?

The captain of the cargo ship Solong was a Russian national.

What was the cargo ship Solong carrying at the time of the collision?

The Solong was not carrying sodium cyanide at the time of the collision, though it had previously carried the chemical in some containers. It was en route from Grangemouth to Rotterdam.

What is the current status of the environmental impact from the collision?

The environmental impact appears to be less severe than initially feared, with most of the spilled jet fuel having evaporated or burned off. However, there are ongoing concerns about potential damage to wildlife and the marine ecosystem.

Is there any indication of foul play in the collision?

There is currently no indication of foul play in the collision. Authorities have stated that they do not suspect malicious activity.

What is the status of the investigation into the collision?

The investigation into the collision is ongoing, with the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch gathering initial evidence. The overall responsibility for the investigation lies with the U.S. and Portuguese authorities, as the vessels are flagged in these countries.

5 sources·World

Russian Captain Arrested in North Sea Collision Involving US Tanker

A Russian national captain is under UK police custody after a cargo ship collided with a US tanker in the North Sea, resulting in a fire.

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U.K. authorities say they don't suspect foul play.
Ship owner says arrested captain of vessel involved in North Sea collision is Russian
ABC News·6d
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Center
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Some of the jet fuel that was onboard the tanker, equivalent to 220,000 barrels in total, will have been burned in what was described as a “massive fireball” but it remains likely some may have been spilled into the sea, causing possible environmental damage.
Man arrested over UK ship collision is Russian, owner says
The Guardian·6d
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The collision sent jet fuel pouring into the sea and sparked fears of significant environmental damage.
Ship owner says arrested captain of cargo vessel involved in North Sea collision is Russian
Associated Press·6d
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Center
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British police have since opened a criminal investigation into the crash and arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.
Cargo ship captain arrested in North Sea collision is Russian national, owner says
CNN·6d
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The collision sent jet fuel pouring into the sea and sparked fears of significant environmental damage.
Ship Owner Says Arrested Captain of Cargo Vessel Involved in North Sea Collision Is Russian
Newsmax·6d
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Right
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Mar 12th, 2025, 8:29 AM ET

Summary

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

The 59-year-old Russian captain of the cargo ship Solong was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after a collision with the US-flagged Stena Immaculate in the North Sea. The crash caused both vessels to catch fire and led to one missing crew member presumed dead. A mix of Russian and Filipino nationals made up the crew. Investigations are ongoing, but authorities do not suspect foul play. The incident has raised concerns about potential environmental damage from spilled jet fuel, impacting wildlife and the marine ecosystem.

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The captain of the cargo ship involved in the collision is a Russian national and is currently in police custody, suspected of gross negligence manslaughter.
There are concerns about environmental damage due to the spill of jet fuel from the US-flagged tanker and the ongoing fires aboard both vessels.
Previous inspections of the Solong revealed multiple deficiencies, raising questions about its safety and management prior to the incident.

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