More than 30 casualties brought ashore at Grimsby after crash between tanker and cargo ship

More than 30 casualties have been brought ashore at Grimsby after a crash between an oil tanker and a cargo ship in the North Sea.

Footage shows clouds of black smoke billowing into the air after the collision off the coast of East Yorkshire on Monday morning, around 10 miles from the Lincolnshire coast.

So far 32 casualties have been brought ashore - but some crew members are yet to be accounted for, a port boss has said.

Lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter were called to the collision in the Humber Estuary just before 10am, believed to involve a US-flagged tanker called the MV Stena Immaculate.

The American tanker was at anchor, according to ship tracking tool Vesselfinder.

Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, told the PA news agency 13 casualties were initially brought in on a Windcat 33 vessel, followed by another 10 on a harbour pilot boat and nine on another pilot's vessel.

Mr Boyers 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.

"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."

The casualties' conditions remain unclear.

Footage of the incident showed at least one vessel on fire, with clouds of black smoke coming out of the oil tanker.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:

"I'm concerned to hear of the collision between two vessels in the North Sea this morning and am liaising with officials and HM Coastguard as the situation develops.

"I want to thank all emergency service workers involved for their continued efforts in responding to the incident."

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."

Responding to the news of an oil tanker collision off the coast of Yorkshire, a spokesperson for Greenpeace UK, said:

“We are monitoring reports of a cargo vessel crashing into an oil tanker off the coast of Yorkshire very closely. Both the high speed of the collision and the footage of the aftermath are cause for great concern. Right now, our thoughts are with all those affected by the incident and the emergency services responding to the situation.

“At this stage, it’s too early to assess the extent of any environmental damage. But the magnitude of any impact will depend on a number of factors, including the amount and type of oil carried by the tanker, the fuel carried by both ships, and how much of that, if any, has entered the water.

"Sea and weather conditions will also be important in determining how any spill behaves. In the case of an oil spill or any loss of hazardous cargo from the container ship involved, the speed of the response will also be crucial in limiting any impact."

Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue said it has had a committee meeting to discuss preparations to help care for any injured animals

"We are currently adapting our oil spill response protocols—originally designed for factory spills—to ensure we are prepared for this incident.

"In response, we have set up a dedicated oiled wildlife hotline for reporting affected animals in Cleethorpes: 01472 472662.

"Additionally, we will be collaborating closely with our partner rescues and have scheduled a meeting with them soon to coordinate efforts.

"To focus on preparations and ensure we are fully equipped to handle any wildlife impact, we will be closed for the remainder of the day.

"If you spot an oiled bird along our coast, please do not attempt to handle it. Instead, report the sighting via the hotline, and a volunteer will respond as soon as possible.

"Finally, our thoughts are with the crew members of the vessels involved, the rescue teams and the emergency services who are working tirelessly in incredibly difficult circumstances. We appreciate their hard work and dedication during this challenging time."

Stena Bulk, the owner of an oil tanker involved in a crash in the North Sea, said the crew are safe.

Lena Alvling, general manager for marketing and corporate events, said in a statement: "Stena Immaculate crew are all safe."

Downing Street said details of the cause of the collision were "still becoming clear"

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said it was an "extremely concerning situation".

He said:

"We thank the emergency services for their rapid response. I understand the Department for Transport is working closely with the coastguard to help support the response to the incident.

"We're obviously monitoring the situation, we'll continue to co-ordinate the response and we're grateful to emergency personnel for their continued efforts."

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