The captain of the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong, which collided with a U.S.-flagged tanker near Britain, is a Russian national, according to the vessel’s owner, Ernst Russ.

The incident occurred on March 10 in the North Sea off the coast of Great Britain, when Solong struck the moored tanker Stena Immaculate, which was transporting jet fuel for the U.S. military.

The 59-year-old captain was arrested by British police on March 11 on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

According to reports, one person remains missing and is presumed dead following the collision.

The collision triggered large fires on both vessels and caused fuel to spill into the sea.

Ernst Russ confirmed that in addition to the captain, the Solong’s 14-member crew includes Russian and Filipino sailors.

Rescue operations were launched immediately, with two coast guard helicopters, a surveillance aircraft, and several rescue boats dispatched to the scene. Nearby vessels equipped with firefighting gear also assisted.

A total of 36 crew members were safely brought to shore, and one person was hospitalized.

Fire after collision of the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong with a U.S.-flagged tanker near Britain Photo credits: OSINTdefender / Х

“One Solong crew member remains missing. After an extensive search, the operation has been called off,” rescuers said.

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency is assessing necessary measures to address potential pollution.

The Stena Immaculate was carrying approximately 35 million liters of Jet A-1 aviation fuel, while Solong was transporting 15 containers of sodium cyanide.

The tanker’s captain reported that Stena Immaculate sustained a rupture in a cargo compartment holding jet fuel, which subsequently leaked into the sea.

In 2024, a vessel departing from Russia damaged an underwater cable between Finland and Germany.