Incident Updates: Stena Immaculate North Sea

Salvage operations continue to progress for the Stena Immaculate, which was struck while at anchor by the container ship Solong on Monday, March 10.

Cargo lightering of the Stena Immaculate has been completed as of Tuesday, April 8, and all remaining jet fuel was safely transferred to the tanker Fure Vyl. The cargo fuel is being delivered to its original destination of Killingholme, U.K.

After a final assessment by salvage experts, the Stena Immaculate will be towed to a lay berth at the Port of Great Yarmouth, U.K., with arrival expected later this week. The vessel will then be inspected, undergo temporary repairs and is expected to remain there pending its final repair destination, which has yet to be determined. The tow and lay berth destination was updated after further planning and analysis from Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K., to best accommodate the vessel’s draft specifications. We appreciate the Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP), our U.K. port and maritime partners’ support in this process.

We continue to work with the appropriate authorities and remain committed to concluding the remaining salvage operations with the highest possible regard for safety.

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the incident and its impacts, and any related questions should be directed to them.

The U.K.’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released an interim report regarding the North Sea incident whereby the container ship Solong struck the Crowley-operated tanker Stena Immaculate while it was at anchor on Monday, March 10.

The report confirmed that the Stena Immaculate’s Second Officer was on watch, beginning a 12-hour lookout shift just before midnight, during which patchy visibility was reported in the area.

It is important to note that watch requirements for vessels at anchor are different from ships that are underway. The Stena Immaculate was operating in compliance with applicable watch-standing safety regulations and Crowley company policies for an anchored vessel. We are confident that the forthcoming comprehensive investigation report will clarify the facts and circumstances of the incident, demonstrating that Crowley exercised appropriate vigilance.

At Crowley, safety is rooted in everything we do – from our people, operations and communities we serve. We are extremely proud of the 23 mariners of the Stena Immaculate, whose bravery and operational focus ensured that fire monitors were active in order to provide boundary cooling water. Their actions resulted in limited impact to just one of the 16 cargo holds and the remaining cargo, minimizing impact to the environment and protecting their lives.

Operations are moving into the next phase of salvage and recovery for the Stena Immaculate, which was struck while at anchor by the containership Solong in the North Sea on March 10.

Salvage crews are continuing to complete their assessments and preparing for cargo lightering operations. During the weekend of March 29-30, operations will commence at sea to transfer the remaining 202,485 barrels of Jet-A1 cargo from the Stena Immaculate tanker to tanker Fure Vyl, which is anchored nearby. This lightering operation is a standard and routine maritime practice that follows established safety protocols.

Following the safe transfer of the cargo, Fure Vyl will deliver the jet fuel product to its original destination of Killingholme, UK. The Stena Immaculate will be towed to Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, for further inspection anticipated to take place in early April.

We continue to work with the appropriate authorities and remain committed to supporting the salvors and salvage operations with the highest possible regard for safety.

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the incident and its impacts, and any related questions should be directed to them.

Salvage experts with SMIT Salvage are continuing onboard assessments of Stena Immaculate. 

Today, Sunday, March 16, the third-party salvage team has confirmed that damage resulting from the containership Solong striking the Stena Immaculate was limited to one cargo tank containing Jet-A1 fuel and one ballast tank containing sea water. 

At the time of the allision, the Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel. Based on an assessment by the salvage team, it has been confirmed that 17,515 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel have been lost due to the impact and fire. The remaining cargo and bunkers are secure. 

“Before being forced to abandon ship, the crew had the dedication and presence of mind to ensure fire monitors were active in order to provide boundary cooling water to the adjacent cargo tanks. Their heroic action limited damage to only the cargo tanks impacted due to the allision,” said Cal Hayden, vice president, Crowley global ship management. “We remain fully committed to supporting the UK response to the striking of the Stena Immaculate and any environmental remediation.”  

The U.K.’s HM Coastguard position remains that there continues to be no cause for concern for pollution from the tanker.

The salvage process is ongoing and will take time to complete. A salvage and tow plan will be finalized working with the appropriate authorities.  

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the incident and its impacts, and any related questions should be directed to them.

Crowley continues to work closely with U.K. agencies to support response operations resulting from container ship Solong striking the Crowley-operated tanker Stena Immaculate while at anchor on Monday, March 10.

Third-party salvage experts with SMIT Salvage have boarded the Stena Immaculate for assessment. The salvage process is ongoing and will take time to complete. The initial objectives are to continue securing the vessel so inspectors and salvage workers can safely work, assess degree of damage, and continue actions to mitigate any environmental impacts. A salvage and tow plan will then be finalized working with the appropriate authorities.

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the incident and its impacts, and any related questions should be directed to them.

Crowley will provide further updates as needed and on official company social media channels.

Crowley continues to work closely with U.K. agencies to support response operations resulting from container ship Solong striking the Crowley-managed tanker Stena Immaculate while at anchor on Monday, March 10.  

A fire onboard the Stena Immaculate has ceased with no visible signs of smoke or flame after reviews Wednesday. Crowley continues to assist response efforts led by the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). The vessel is stable, remains securely anchored and is being monitored via a salvage vessel by Crowley representatives and partners as well as government authorities.  

Initial third-party salvage operations for the Stena Immaculate have begun to assess the vessel exterior and indicate no ongoing release of cargo product to the water and no sheen on the water. The MCA also indicated on Wednesday there have been no further reports of pollution to the sea from Stena Immaculate.  

Crowley continues to support government agencies monitoring environmental conditions. Salvage activities onboard will begin as soon as safety and weather allow. 

Until salvage teams can go aboard the ship, it remains unclear what volume of Jet A1 fuel may have been released as a result of the incident. Of the 16 cargo holds, at least one was impacted. 

Our priorities continue to be carrying out the incident response and mitigating environmental threats, while fully supporting the health and wellbeing of our mariners in Grimsby. Authorities also continue to investigate the cause of the incident and its impacts, and we defer to them for any related questions. 

Crowley continues to work closely with U.K. agencies to support the incident response, salvage and environmental impact mitigation operations resulting from container ship Solong striking the Crowley-managed tanker Stena Immaculate while at anchor on Monday, March 10.

A fire onboard the Stena Immaculate has greatly diminished with no visible flames. Crowley is continuing to assist response efforts led by the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). The vessel is stationary at anchor and being monitored by Crowley representatives, partners and government authorities, and we are working alongside partners during initial salvage activities.

In the meantime, we are prioritizing supporting the health and wellbeing of our mariners in Grimsby and the response effort to mitigate environmental threats.

It remains uncertain at this time what volume of fuel may have been released as a result of the incident, but initial review shows impacts have been limited due to exposure to the fire and evaporation of the Jet A1 fuel. In addition, U.K agencies are closely monitoring air quality and any possible public health impacts resulting onshore. Both are currently measuring low or within normal levels.

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the incident and its impacts, and we defer to them for any question about the cause. The individual arrested by local police is not a member of the Crowley crew.

At approximately 10 a.m. UTC/5 a.m. EDT on March 10, 2025, while stationary and anchored off the North Sea coast near Hull, United Kingdom, the Crowley-managed tanker Stena Immaculate was struck on its port side by the container ship Solong. As a result, at least one cargo tank containing Jet-A1 fuel was ruptured.

Crowley is working closely with response agencies including the HM Coastguard to secure the vessel in a restricted safety area and initiate spill containment response. All 23 Crowley mariners that were on board are safe and accounted for with no reported injuries at this time.

“As with all our operations, Crowley’s priority is to protect the safety of mariners, and the environment. We greatly appreciate the quick actions and support of the U.K. authorities, rescue workers and others to today’s incident and remain committed to working with them on the continued response efforts,” said Cal Hayden, vice president, Crowley global ship management.

The Stena Immaculate is managed by Crowley through a joint venture with owner Stena Bulk USA. In 2023, the tanker was selected by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) to serve in its Tanker Security Program. While under charter on this voyage for the Military Sealift Command, the tanker was anchored while it awaited berth availability at the Port of Killingholme, where it was due to make a standard delivery of fuel as part of a routine service under this program when it was struck.

At this stage, it is unclear what volume of fuel may have been released as a result of the incident. At the time it was struck, the 183-meter (596-foot) Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks. Crowley is supporting the relevant authorities in the UK who are investigating the incident and will defer to them for any further questions on potential cause.

Crowley will also provide further updates on official company social media channels.

At approximately 10 a.m. UTC/ 5 a.m. EST on March 10, 2025, while anchored off the North Sea coast near Hull, United Kingdom, the Crowley-managed tanker Stena Immaculate was struck by the container ship Solong. 

The Stena Immaculate sustained a ruptured cargo tank containing Jet-A1 fuel due to the allision. A fire occurred as a result of the allision, and fuel was reported released. The Stena Immaculate crew abandoned the vessel following multiple explosions onboard. All Crowley mariners are safe and fully accounted for. 

Crowley immediately initiated its emergency vessel response plan and is actively working with public agencies to contain the fire and secure the vessel. 

Our first priority is the safety of the people and environment. We will provide more updates as information becomes available.