Rescuers are battling to contain the effects of the toxic oil spill off the coast of East Yorkshire, which could become one of the worst UK environmental disasters in decades.
The exact cause of the crash remains unclear, but a 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. One crew member is still missing presumed dead.
Reports initially suggested Solong was carrying sodium cyanide, however the ship’s owners, Ernst Russ, confirmed on Tuesday that the highly toxic chemical had been removed from the ship before the collision.
Martin Slater, deputy chief executive at the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, said the collision took place in “a really sensitive location” and the timing “couldn’t be worse” for local wildlife.
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Slater said it could be “catastrophic” for birds if any unburnt fuel drifted towards the shore, especially as now is the start of breeding season.
Slater said these birds will be out foraging for food for their chicks in the North Sea and could end up digesting toxic fuel.
He did raise concerns over fish populations and “sensitive plant communities” in the Humber Estuary that will be affected if spilt oil drifts westwards from the collision site.
“One of the reasons why incidents of this sort can be really critical is that our wildlife is squeezed into the coastline and the Humber Estuary. It’s much more sensitive to these catastrophic incidents.
Andy Teasdale, a marine safety adviser to the Institute of Marine Science, Engineering and Technology, warned that a “bigger problem” could arise if either vessel is carrying “heavy fuel to power the engines”.
Experts believe the Stena Immaculate may avoid sinking due to its dual hull, however Solong is expected to sink.
Dr Leslie Mabon, senior lecturer in environmental systems at The Open University, said huge pollution events, such as the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska or the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico can have a lasting effect on the local area.
“So as fuller details of what exactly has happened over the coming days and weeks unfold, it’s going to be vital to remember these less tangible but very profound effects that an incident like this can have on the coasts and the people that live and work there,” he said.
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