More than 30 sailors have been injured after an oil tanker was engulfed by flames following a collision with a container ship off the east coast of Yorkshire
Sailors onboard the Stena Immaculate, which was carrying a "full load" of jet fuel, were forced to abandon ship after another vessel crashed into its port side while it was anchored at Humber Estuary earlier this morning.
Crew members from the Solong cargo vessel were also forced to abandon ship after the collision.
Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, confirmed that 13 casualties were initially brought in on a Windcat 33 vessel, followed by another 19 on a harbour pilot boat.
Fire engulfs oil tanker as sailors rush to abandon ship after collision off Yorkshire coastX/@TessaronnewsBoyers said he had been told there was “a massive fireball”, adding: “It’s too far out for us to see – about 10 miles – but we have seen the vessels bringing them in."
He also claimed: “They must have sent a mayday out – luckily there was a crew transfer vessel out there already.
“Since then there has been a flotilla of ambulances to pick up anyone they can find.”
Stena Bulk chief executive Erik Hanell has since confirmed that all of the crew onbard MV Stena Immaculate are now accounted for and safe.
He also stressed it is too early to speculate the cause of the collision in the North Sea.
In audio obtained by GB News, Humber Coastguard said: "Solong has collided with tanker Stena Immaculate in the outer anchorage.
A GPS image of the scene in the North Sea
GB NEWS
"Both vessels are abandoning. Vessels who have firefighting equipment or who can assist with search and rescue, contact Humber Coastguard.
"Vessel Stena Immaculate is carrying fuel which is on fire and in the water.
"Request vessels remain at a stafe distance. Humber Coastguard cooardinating."
The RNLI had also confirmed that "a number of people had abandoned the vessels following a collision and there were fires on both ships".
Sailors onboard the Stena Immaculate were forced to abandon ship after another vessel crashed into its port side earlier this morning
Lifeboats and firefighting teams have headed to the scene, with a coastguard resuce operation also being coordinated in the North Sea.
A coastguard rescue helicopter was quickly deployed from Humberside and lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe and Cleethorpes also responded to the incident.
Officials have confirmed that the alarm was first raised at 9.48am.
Describing it as an "ongoing incident", the UK Coastguard said: "HM Coastguard is currently co-ordinating the emergency response to reports of a collision between a tanker and cargo vessel off the coast of East Yorkshire.
"The alarm was raised at 9.48am. A Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Humberside was called, alongside lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Maplethorpe and Cleethorpes, an HM Coastguard fixed wing aircraft, and nearby vessels with fire-fighting capability. The incident remains ongoing."
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has sent investigators to Grimsby following the crash between two vessels in the North Sea.A spokesperson said: “The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has deployed a team to Grimsby following the collision of the Portuguese-registered container ship Solong and the US-registered oil tanker Stena Immaculate which collided in the North Sea this morning.
“Our team of inspectors and support staff are gathering evidence and undertaking a preliminary assessment of the accident to determine our next steps.”
