New Insights Emerge from Footage of Ship Collision in UK Foggy Waters

New video evidence has surfaced, revealing the critical moments before the collision between the containership SOLONG and the tanker STENA IMMACULATE off the East Yorkshire coast of England. This footage was captured by Orca AI’s refined surveillance technology.

The incident took place on monday morning when the Portuguese-flagged SOLONG collided with the anchored US-flagged STENA IMMACULATE near Hull.At that time, the tanker was holding 220,000 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel and awaiting its turn to dock at Port Killingholme.

The recordings from orca AI’s SeaPod unit consist of two seperate videos. The first utilizes daytime cameras to illustrate poor visibility due to thick fog, while the second employs thermal imaging to document SOLONG’s approach and subsequent explosion upon impact.

“This footage provides a clear context for understanding this accident, particularly highlighting how foggy conditions contributed,” stated Yarden Gross, CEO and Co-founder of Orca AI.

According to AIS data, SOLONG was moving at around 16 knots when it struck the stationary tanker without making any evasive actions. The collision caused both vessels to become briefly entangled before SOLONG drifted southward, prompting authorities to establish a 1-kilometer exclusion zone around them.

As reported by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), both ships have been stabilized with fires considerably diminished as of Wednesday morning. Tugs are currently maintaining SOLONG’s position offshore while STENA IMMACULATE remains anchored without visible flames.

One crew member from SOLONG is still unaccounted for; though, 36 others were successfully evacuated. All personnel aboard STENA IMMACULATE are confirmed safe.

Humberside Police have detained a 59-year-old Russian captain of German-owned SOLONG on charges related to gross negligence manslaughter.

Environmental evaluations have shown positive results so far; MCA reports no further pollution beyond initial findings. Air quality assessments indicate no harmful toxins present, and Met Office modeling suggests no risk to public health exists at this time.Investigations are underway involving multiple agencies including U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and U.S. Coast Guard alongside coordination efforts from UK maritime authorities with vessel owners and insurers involved in salvage operations.

This incident underscores persistent concerns regarding maritime navigation safety.

“Despite advancements in technology, crews often depend on traditional navigation methods that falter under low visibility conditions like dense fog or rough weather,” Gross remarked. “Additionally, crew fatigue poses important risks by impairing reaction times which can lead to human error.”