Man, 59, arrested in connection to explosion on oil tanker off UK coast

Police have confirmed that a 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after an oil tanker and cargo ship collided in the North Sea.

Just before 10am on Monday (10 March) morning it was reported that US-registered tanker Stena Immaculate had collided with Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong, near the east of Hull, North Yorkshire, with both ships bursting into flames. The incident was later confirmed by a spokesperson for HM coastguard.

Humberside Police confirmed the man was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and that a criminal investigation had begun.

"Following inquiries undertaken by my team, we have arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision," a spokesperson for Humberside Police said in a statement (via BBC).

Both ships were engulfed in flames (Bartek Smialek/PA Wire)

"Humberside Police have taken primacy for the investigation of any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision between the two vessels."

He continued: "This follows the conclusion of search operations by HM Coastguard for the missing crew member of the Solong.

"Our thoughts are with the family of the missing crew member, and I have appointed family liaison officers to make contact and provide support to the family."

Rescuers were able to help 36 of the crew members onboard ashore, with one person later being taken to hospital.

One crew member from the Solong cargo ship remains missing, with the search and rescue mission being called off.

Smouldering remains of the MV Solong cargo ship (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Transport Minister Mike Kane later told the House of Commons that the missing crew member is presumed dead.

"Our working assumption is that, very sadly, the sailor is deceased," he said (via Hull Live).

"The coastguard has informed the company and it has been advised to inform the next of kin. Our thoughts are with the sailor’s loved ones at this time."

Meanwhile arial footage revealed the extent of the damage caused to the Stena Immaculate, which is said to have been carrying jet fuel for the US military, revealed a large hole in the side of the ship.

The Solong ship was reportedly also carrying flammable materials, however owner Ernst Russ, has since confirmed the ship did not contain sodium cyanide as previously reported.

Hull City Council leader Mike Ross has also warned about a potential environmental disaster in the wake of the crash. "We urgently need to see the scale of the area affected assessed and the level of pollution resulting from the crash," he said (via BBC).

It's expected that the UK will have to foot the bill for clean-up costs, per the terms of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. However, it is likely that this will later be recovered from the vessel owners and their insurers.