At least 32 casualties as oil tanker explodes into fireball during collision with ship off UK coast

At least 32 casualties have been reported after an oil tanker burst into flames after it collided with a container ship in the North Sea, off the coast of Yorkshire.

A further nine people were brought to shore, adding to the 23 found this morning. All were alive, and a line of ambulances was waiting to take them to hospital, Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, told Sky News.

The accident took place in the Humber Estuary near the northeastern town of Withernsea, just before 10am this morning (10 March).

It involved a US-flagged tanker called the Stena Immaculate and a Portuguese-flagged container ship called the Solong, with the collision causing lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter to be deployed to the scene, off the UK-coast.

It was confirmed by Boyers that 13 casualties were initially brought in on a vessel, followed by another 10 on a harbour pilot boat.

Now, the nine casualties, also brought in on a pilot's vessel, brings the total up to 32.

Boyers explained to Metro: "It’s too far out for us to see - about 10 miles - but we have seen the vessels bringing them in.

"They must have sent a mayday out – luckily there was a crew transfer vessel out there already.

"Since then there has been a flotilla of ambulances to pick up anyone they can find."

The BBC has also reported that the crew on the Stena Immaculate are safe, as business reporter Jonathan Josephs said he had spoken to the chief executive of Stena Bulk, Erik Hanell.

Hanell said that all of the crew aboard the oil tanker were safe, but would not comment on the cause of the collision.

A coastguard spokesperson stated: “HM Coastguard is currently co-ordinating the emergency response to reports of a collision between a tanker and cargo vessel off the coast of East Yorkshire. The alarm was raised at 9.48am.

“A Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Humberside was called, alongside lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Maplethorpe and Cleethorpes, an HM Coastguard fixed wing aircraft, and nearby vessels with fire-fighting capability.

“The incident remains ongoing.”

The coastguard helicopter that has been dispatched to scene is currently co-ordinating a response with local firefighters.

The BBC previously reported that the oil tanker appeared to be stationary and at anchor according to data from the tracking website MarineTraffic, and that the Solong appeared to collide with the vessel.

Metro reported that a mayday call concerning the collision identified the Stena Immaculate as carrying jet fuel which had ignited in the water.

The call was sent out from a member of the Humber Coastguard, sharing their coordinates and requested for help from any ships in the area, particularly those with 'firefighting equipment'.

"Solong has collided with Tanker Stena Immaculate in the outer anchorage," they said.

"Both vessels are abandoning. Vessels who have firefighting equipment or who can assist with search and rescue contact Humber Coastguard.

"Vessel Stena Immaculate is carrying Jet A 1 fuel which is on fire and in the water."