Captain in Custody

The captain of the cargo vessel Solong, which collided with a U.S. tanker in the North Sea, is a Russian national and remains in U.K. police custody, the ship’s owner confirmed on Wednesday.

The 59-year-old captain, whose name has not been disclosed, was arrested in northeast England on Tuesday on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence. However, authorities have not yet filed formal charges.

Crew and Ship Background

The Solong, a Portugal-flagged cargo vessel owned by the German shipping company Ernst Russ, had a crew of 14 members consisting of Russian and Filipino nationals.

Port inspection records reveal previous safety concerns. In July, the Solong failed a steering-related safety check in Dublin, Ireland, due to unreadable “emergency steering position communications/compass reading.” Inspectors identified 10 deficiencies, including inadequate alarms, improperly maintained survival craft, and non-compliant fire doors.

Another inspection in Scotland in October flagged two additional deficiencies, but the ship was not detained after either review.

Details of the Collision

The accident occurred on Monday when the Solong collided with the MV Stena Immaculate, a 183-meter (596-foot) tanker transporting jet fuel for the U.S. military. The collision sparked fires aboard both vessels.

One Solong crew member is missing and presumed dead, while the other 36 crew members from both ships were safely rescued without major injuries.

Ongoing Fire and Environmental Concerns

As of Wednesday, the Solong was still drifting and on fire, but officials believe it is unlikely to sink.

The Stena Immaculate was operating under the U.S. government’s Tanker Security Program, which contracts commercial vessels to transport fuel for military needs. The impact of the crash resulted in jet fuel spilling into the sea, raising concerns about environmental damage.

Environmentalists warn that the spill could threaten marine life, including whales, dolphins, and seabirds such as puffins, gannets, and guillemots that inhabit the coastal cliffs. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely to assess the extent of the damage and implement mitigation measures.

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Two crew members are missing after a Russian state-owned cargo ship, Ursa Major, sank in the Mediterranean Sea following an onboard explosion. The incident, which occurred in international waters, was confirmed by Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

Explosion and Rescue Operations

The Ursa Major suffered an explosion in its engine room, causing it to sink, according to the ministry’s crisis unit. Out of the 16 crew members on board, 14 were rescued and transported to the Spanish port of Cartagena. The remaining two crew members are still unaccounted for.

Spain’s sea rescue service reported receiving a distress call from the ship on Monday morning. The vessel, caught in bad weather off the southeastern coast of Spain, had been listing and had launched a lifeboat. Spanish rescue teams, including a helicopter and rescue boats, quickly responded, bringing the survivors to shore. There, the Red Cross provided them with assistance.

Later, a Russian warship arrived at the site, taking control of the operation. The Ursa Major sank overnight while the rescue efforts continued.

Cargo and Mission Details

According to the Spanish rescue service, the Ursa Major was carrying empty containers in its hold and two large cranes on deck. The ship’s owner, Oboronlogistika, a subsidiary of Russia’s Defense Ministry, stated that the cargo included harbor cranes and hatch covers intended for icebreakers.

The ship’s mission was part of broader efforts by the Russian state to enhance Arctic port infrastructure and develop the northern sea route. Photos released by Oboronlogistika last week showed the ship docked and loaded with its heavy cargo, bound for Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East.

Ownership and Route

The Ursa Major is a 124.7-meter (409-foot) general cargo ship. It is listed on MarineTraffic.com as operating between Saint Petersburg and Vladivostok. A map on Oboronlogistika’s website indicates the company’s usual shipping routes include Novorossiisk, in southern Russia, and Tartus, Russia’s naval base in Syria.

Ongoing Investigations

While the explosion’s cause remains unclear, Russian authorities are investigating the incident. Meanwhile, search efforts continue for the two missing crew members.

This tragedy underscores the risks faced by maritime workers, especially in challenging conditions and volatile regions. Further updates are expected as the investigation unfolds.

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A New Zealand navy ship sank after hitting a reef near Samoa due to a mistake by the crew, who accidentally left the vessel on “autopilot,” an inquiry revealed on Friday.

In October, the HMNZS Manawanui struck a reef south of Samoa’s Upolu Island, causing a fire that ultimately led to the ship sinking. Dozens of sailors were rescued from the wreck. This incident marked the first time New Zealand had lost a naval ship since World War II, according to the BBC. The HMNZS Manawanui was one of just nine ships in the country’s small navy.

The ship had been sent on a mission to map the ocean floor. A military court inquiry found that the ship was left in autopilot mode, which caused it to continue heading toward land and ultimately run aground. The crew noticed the ship was off course and tried to correct its direction, thinking they had lost control due to a “thruster control failure.” However, they failed to check if the autopilot was still engaged, which led to the ship accelerating towards the reef instead of steering away from it.

The inquiry confirmed that the grounding was caused by a series of human errors. The ship’s autopilot should have been disengaged, and the person in control should have checked whether the autopilot function was still active. The mistake occurred due to “muscle memory,” where the crew member didn’t realize they hadn’t turned off the autopilot.

New Zealand’s Defense Minister, Judith Collins, described the incident as a blow to the Navy. “It was a terrible day,” she said. “It was extremely disappointing. But that’s what has happened.”

The ship came to rest about 100 feet underwater, sitting on a stable part of the reef. It was carrying 950 tons of diesel, raising concerns about a potential oil spill that could harm wildlife and damage local food sources. However, the navy has reported that the ship’s main fuel tanks appeared to remain intact, and salvage teams were working to prevent significant leaks.

Fortunately, no one died in the accident, though a few sailors sustained minor injuries.

The sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui attracted criticism online, with some social media users wrongfully blaming the ship’s female captain. These remarks were quickly condemned by New Zealand’s defense minister, who dismissed the critics as “armchair admirals.”

The incident came just weeks after another naval accident, when the U.S. Navy’s oil replenishment ship, the USNS Big Horn, ran aground off the coast of Oman. Although the damage caused flooding aboard the U.S. vessel, there were no reported injuries in that case either.

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