A fatal collision between the US oil tanker Stena Immaculate and container ship Solong off East Yorkshire has led to a manslaughter charge and an extensive environmental clean-up along Norfolk’s coast. Authorities are pursuing cost recovery for the operation amid concerns over marine pollution.
Approximately 12 miles off the coast of East Yorkshire, a collision between the US oil tanker Stena Immaculate and the container ship Solong has resulted in significant damage and a tragic loss of life. Following the incident, a Filipino national perished, and the vessel’s captain, Vladimir Motin, a 59-year-old from Primorsky, St Petersburg, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter.
The accident occurred in the Humber estuary, leading to a fire on the Solong and sparking a considerable clean-up operation along Norfolk’s coastline. Debris, including plastic nodules from the cargo ship, began washing ashore, prompting local authorities to deploy giant vacuum cleaners and mobilise dozens of council staff and officials for the extensive clean-up, which spanned several days.
Concerns have been raised by environmental groups regarding the potential impact on marine life and seabirds due to the pollution caused by the incident. The clean-up efforts sought to mitigate these environmental risks effectively.
In the aftermath of the collision, James Wild, the Conservative MP for North West Norfolk, addressed the House of Commons, seeking clarification on the financial implications of the clean-up operation. He inquired whether the government would pursue compensation from the operators of the involved ships for the substantial costs incurred.
In response, Mike Kane, parliamentary under-secretary for the Department for Transport, confirmed that HM Coastguard’s counter-pollution and salvage team is actively investigating the possibility of financial redress. Kane stated, “The team are in the process of compiling a comprehensive cost recovery claim following the allision in the Humber estuary. The claim will seek to recover the full costs of the government personnel, response equipment (including air surveillance), and the services of specialist technical advisors used in response to the incident and its aftermath.”
The Stena Immaculate has since journeyed to the port of Great Yarmouth, with investigations continuing to assess the broader implications of the collision.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.ne-ifca.gov.uk/Press-Releases/update-on-the-vessel-collision-incident – This official update from the North Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority provides details about the collision between the US-flagged oil tanker Stena Immaculate and the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong, including the rescue operations and the tragic loss of a crew member from the Solong.
- https://www.hmcoastguard.uk/news/updates-vessels-incident-coast-east-yorkshire – HM Coastguard’s updates on the incident off the East Yorkshire coast confirm the collision between the two vessels, the subsequent fires, and the ongoing efforts to assess and mitigate environmental risks.
- https://www.worldcargonews.com/news/2025/03/solong-captain-charged-with-manslaughter-stena-immaculate-crew-hailed-for-heroic-fire-response/ – This article reports on the charges of gross negligence manslaughter against the captain of the Solong, Vladimir Motin, and highlights the heroic actions of the Stena Immaculate crew in responding to the fire.
- https://www.ft.com/content/66f55f82-5b98-4ce3-8fda-815b0c74478d – The Financial Times article details the charges against the Russian captain of the Solong, Vladimir Motin, and the environmental concerns following the collision with the Stena Immaculate.
- https://www.marinelog.com/legal/safety-and-security/praise-for-heroic-action-of-stena-immaculate-crew/ – This article praises the heroic actions of the Stena Immaculate crew, who activated fire monitors to provide boundary cooling water to adjacent cargo tanks, limiting damage to only the impacted cargo tanks.
- https://www.huffingtonpost.es/global/detenido-hombre-homicidio-imprudente-colision-dos-buques-inglaterra.html – This article reports on the arrest of a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter following the collision between the Stena Immaculate and the Solong in the Humber Estuary.
- https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/25128421.north-sea-tanker-crash-compensation-bid-norfolk-clean-up/?ref=rss – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is fresh if it occurred recently due to a lack of specific dates in the provided text. However, no evidence of recycling from older articles was found, suggesting it may be a recent event.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
No quotes were verified against earlier sources online, but Mike Kane’s quote is likely original given its context and lack of previously found references.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from edp24.co.uk, a local UK news outlet. While it may not be as well-known as major international outlets, regional news sites often provide reliable local reporting.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about the tanker collision, legal charges, and clean-up efforts are plausible given the context of a maritime accident and subsequent environmental concerns.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears plausible with a plausible scenario of a maritime accident and its aftermath. However, without specific dates or external verification of some details, it remains open to further investigation for full validation.
