US Oil Tanker, Cargo Ship Collide Off England’s Coast

A US-flagged oil tanker collided with a cargo ship off the northeastern coast of England, igniting a massive fire and prompting an emergency response from the UK Coastguard.

The British Coastguard dispatched a helicopter, lifeboats from nearby towns, and firefighting vessels to contain the blaze.

Footage of the incident showed thick black smoke billowing from the burning ship, though its authenticity is still being verified.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) confirmed that four lifeboat crews were deployed and reported that several crew members evacuated both vessels after the collision and subsequent fire.

According to Martin Bowers, CEO of the nearby Grimsby East Port, at least 32 people were brought ashore, where ambulances awaited to transport the injured to the hospital.

The vessels involved are believed to be the Stena Immaculate, a US-flagged oil tanker operated by Crowley Logistics, and Solong, a Madeira-flagged container ship from Portugal, as per VesselFinder tracking data.

The Stena Immaculate is part of a US government fleet supplying fuel to the military, adding to the significance of the incident.

Meanwhile, Solong had departed from Grangemouth, Scotland, on Sunday evening, en route to Rotterdam, Netherlands. The Stena Immaculate had been anchored near Hull, following a voyage from a Greek port last month.

Real-time data from VesselFinder showed rescue vessels and a tugboat rushing to the collision site during the Coastguard's emergency response.