Cargo ship captain arrested after tanker crash in UK is a Russian national

The Solong crashed into the Stena Immaculate off the English coast on Monday, causing both ships to catch fire. (AFP: Paul Ellis)

In short:

The captain of crashed container ship the Solong is a Russian national, the vessel's owner says.

The Solong crashed into the anchored Sterna Immaculate off the UK coast on Monday, causing a massive blaze.

What's next?

The captain, 59, remains in custody on suspicion of gross negligence and manslaughter, but the UK government says it does not suspect "foul play".

The captain of a cargo ship who was arrested after the vessel crashed into a tanker in the North Sea was a Russian national, it has emerged. 

The Solong smashed into the Stena Immaculate — a tanker carrying jet fuel for the US military — on Monday, sparking massive blazes on both vessels.

The incident unfolded just off the east coast of northern England, sparking an emergency response and concerns of environmental damage.

On Tuesday, a 59-year-old man, later revealed to be the Solong's captain, was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence and manslaughter.

British police say he remains in custody while detectives continue their investigation into the incident.

Ernst Russ, the German company that owned the Portuguese-flagged Solong, confirmed on Wednesday that the captain was Russian. 

The rest of the 14-strong crew, one of whom is missing and presumed dead, was a mix of Russian and Filipino nationals.

The Russian embassy in London did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment by news agency Reuters.

UK govt says no suggestion of 'foul play'

Monday's crash caused huge fires and explosions and leaked fuel into the sea, prompting worries over the impact on the environment and protected bird colonies.

The coastguard said on Wednesday that there had been no further reports of pollution from either vessel since then.

Fires onboard the Solong, which was being held in position by a tug, have greatly reduced, while there were no visible flames seen at the Stena Immaculate, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

"Salvors will only board the vessels when it is safe to do so. Only then will it be possible to carry out comprehensive damage assessments," the statement added.

The Stena Immaculate was at anchor when it was struck by the smaller Solong, leading to speculation about the cause of the crash. 

The spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said there was no suggestion of "foul play".

Reuters