A tanker carrying pesticides and jet fuel collided in the North Sea off the east coast of the United Kingdom. Both ships caught fire after the collision. According to the latest data, the BBC writes that one crew member of the tanker is missing.
The American tanker Stena Immaculate, operated by the Crowley company, was anchored near the British city of Kingston-upon-Hull and the port of Grimsby when the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship Solong approached it.
The tanks contained Jet A-1 jet fuel, and among the Solong’s cargo were 15 containers of sodium cyanide. This toxic substance is dangerous to living organisms, including fish, and can release hazardous gases when heated.
The BBC reports that a certain amount of fuel spilled into the sea, but it is unclear whether toxic substances were released from the cargo ship into the water.
The causes of the collision are not yet known. An investigation has been launched into the incident.
