The US operator of an oil tanker hit by a cargo ship in the North Sea off Britain on Monday said its crew had abandoned the tanker after a fuel leak and multiple explosions.
“While anchored off the North Sea coast near Hull, United Kingdom, the Crowley-managed tanker Stena Immaculate was struck by the container ship Solong,” Crowley Maritime said in a statement.
“The Stena Immaculate sustained a ruptured cargo tank containing Jet-A1 fuel,” it said, referring to the fuel typically used by aircraft.
Crowley said that “fuel was reported released” and there was a fire, adding the Stena “crew abandoned the vessel following multiple explosions onboard.”
All the Crowley staff were safe and accounted for, the Jacksonville, Florida-based shipping company said.
