The cargo ship Solong, involved in a crash with the oil tanker Stena Immaculate in the North Sea on 10 March, has been successfully towed to Aberdeen for damage assessment.
The Solong, sailing under the Portuguese flag, arrived in Aberdeen at approximately 07:15 AM, with the full extent of the damage visible from the shore. The ship was assisted by tugs throughout the journey, which lasted several days.
The ship is now berthed in Aberdeen’s South Harbour, where it will be fully assessed by specialist marine assessors and insurers, according to Ernst Russ, the vessel’s owner.
“We are very aware of the efforts and assistance from all those acting in the response,” the owner added. “We want to thank everyone who has responded urgently and gallantly to this incident.”
The collision, which occurred off East Yorkshire, caused an explosion and fires on the Solong, prompting a multi-day salvage operation.
Rescuers saved 36 crew members off both ships involved in the crash.
One crew member of the Solong, Filipino national Mark Angelo Pernia, remains missing and presumed dead, while the Stena Immaculate’s 23 crew members were rescued.
The Solong’s Russian captain, Vladimir Motin, 59, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter. Motin is due to stand trial in January next year.
The collision also resulted in the release of plastic pellets, known as nurdles, into the water. Small plastic pieces have washed up along the east coast of the UK.
While not toxic, nurdles can pose a threat to wildlife if ingested.
UK Chief Coastguard Paddy O’Callaghan confirmed that the Stena Immaculate, which was carrying 220,000 barrels of aviation fuel at the time of the collision, remains stable, with salvage operations ongoing.
