The captain of the cargo ship Solong, involved in a collision with a U.S. tanker, is a Russian national currently in British police custody. The 59-year-old man, whose name has not been released, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence.
The Solong, owned by Ernst Russ, had a mixed crew of Russian and Filipino nationals. British authorities suspect no foul play in the crash.
Prior to the collision, the Solong had failed steering-related safety checks in Dublin, Ireland, with several deficiencies noted, including inadequate alarms, poorly maintained survival craft, and non-compliant fire doors. Despite these issues, the ship was not detained.
The collision occurred in the North Sea, setting both vessels ablaze. One sailor from the Solong is missing and presumed dead, while the remaining crew members from both ships were safely brought ashore.
The Solong, still on fire, is expected to remain afloat. The Stena Immaculate, part of the U.S. government's Tanker Security Program, was carrying jet fuel for the military.
The collision resulted in jet fuel spilling into the sea, raising concerns about environmental damage to marine life and birds.
11 Comments
The Truth
The company's role must also be examined closely—captains often operate within restricted frameworks.
Answer
Not adequately maintaining safety equipment is purely selfish behavior. He knew better and chose to risk lives and nature.
The Truth
The captain may be wrongly made a scapegoat for systemic failings in ship safety enforcement.
Answer
Equipment safety and compliance are company responsibilities as much as the captain's. The blame needs to be reasonably shared.
Comandante
It's unbelievable that someone with such responsibility would operate a ship failing safety tests. Gross negligence indeed!
BuggaBoom
He knew the risks and still went to sea with faulty equipment. Lock him up; sailors deserve better.
Loubianka
My heart goes out to this captain and all involved. The maritime industry faces constant challenging conditions.
Noir Black
A man is missing presumed dead due to incompetence and negligence. This captain should face the harshest penalties possible.
Katchuka
This tragedy could've easily been prevented. No excuses for ignoring previous warnings and safety checks!
KittyKat
Blame unfairly targets the captain; responsibility lies also with authorities who allowed the ship to sail.
Eugene Alta
How many more maritime accidents must happen before these negligent captains learn safety regulations are there for a reason?