A major rescue operation is underway after a US oil tanker and a Portuguese cargo ship collided in the North Sea. The impact caused a fireball explosion sending thick smoke into the sky and triggering immediate distress signals. Rescue teams rushed to the scene battling dangerous conditions to save crew members.

Casualties and Medical Response

The first distress call came at 9:48AM alerting authorities about the disaster. By 11AM the Port of Grimsby received confirmation that casualties would soon arrive. Within two hours the first group of 13 injured crew members reached the port on a wind farm vessel. A BP pilot boat followed carrying 10 more casualties. Soon after another vessel brought in 9 additional survivors.

A total of 32 casualties were transported to Princess Diana Hospital in Grimsby. Medical teams worked swiftly as ambulances lined the docks. Officials have confirmed that all 32 were alive though the extent of their injuries remains undisclosed. The exact number of crew members on both vessels is still unclear and reports suggest that more survivors may be en route.

Rescue and Search Operations

The Coast Guard and maritime authorities launched an immediate response. Helicopters circled the area scanning the waters for survivors. Lifeboats were deployed from Humber,Cleethorpes and Bridlington to assist in the evacuation. Several tugboats joined the mission helping stabilize the situation.

A crew transfer vessel from a nearby offshore wind farm happened to be in the area when the collision occurred. Although not officially part of the rescue team its crew played a crucial role by retrieving the first survivor.

The collision involved two large vessels

Stena Immaculate – A US-flagged oil tanker weighing nearly 30000 tons and measuring 183 meters long. It had been anchored off the Port of Hull after departing from Greece.

Solong – A Portuguese cargo ship which was traveling from Scotland to the Netherlands when it struck the stationary tanker.

Despite modern radar systems and tracking technology both ships appeared to be unaware of each others positioning. The collision raises serious concerns about how such an incident occurred in broad daylight under clear weather conditions.

Possible Causes and Investigation

Authorities are now investigating what went wrong. The North Sea is a high traffic zone filled with oil rigs,wind farms and restricted areas. Large vessels rely on advanced navigation systems to avoid collisions. Since Stena Immaculate was stationary investigators are focusing on why the cargo ship failed to adjust its course.

Possible causes include

Human error – A misjudgment by the cargo ship’s crew

Technical failure – Malfunctioning navigation equipment

Communication breakdown – Poor coordination between vessels

Authorities are analyzing radar logs, navigation data and crew reports to determine how the collision happened.

Current Situation and Environmental Risks

Rescue operations continue as helicopters and search boats scour the area for any missing crew members.

Officials are also monitoring for oil spills as leaks from the damaged tanker could devastate marine ecosystems. Specialized containment vessels are standing by to respond if necessary.

The focus remains on saving lives and preventing further disaster. Once rescue operations conclude attention will shift to understanding the cause and ensuring similar accidents never happen again.