Major Oil Spill Alert in the North Sea
After container vessel ran into stationary oil tanker in the North Sea 13 miles off the coast of Yorkshire, England, the office of the UK Prime Minister described the situation as ‘extremely concerning’ in the light of fears of a major environmental disaster.
The oil tanker, Stena Immaculate, reported to be carrying Jet A-1 fuel that was destined for use by the USA military, was struck by the cargo ship, Solong, near the Humber Estuary on the morning of March 10th. The cause of the accident is not clear yet. One crew member is missing and the search for him has been called off. All others from both vessels have been successfully rescued, with one needing to be taken to hospital.
Multiple explosions have been reported on the Stena Immaculate and the vessel is leaking oil into the sea. Bothe vessels are also on fire. The location of the incident is close to important wildlife areas, including England’s largest gannet colony and the breeding sites of kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills and puffins. These species are currently gathering at the start of their breeding season. If the collision results in a major oil spill it will be the worst time of year for their local populations.
Spill threatens vital wildlife habitats
It is not yet clear how extensive the oil spill is likely to be or the extent of its environmental impact. Many factors will affect this including whether the leak can be stopped and the remaining oil on board recovered. Local weather, water currents and wave conditions will affect the dispersal of any spilled oil. Likewise, the nature of any chemicals released is important. Jet fuel is a relatively light form of oil and would be expected to be less persistent in the environment than heavier crude oil. However, it is also toxic and if birds or other wildlife ingest it, for example when preening or grooming, it will harm and potentially kill them. Additionally, oil on feathers or fur will affect their water-proofing characteristics and, hence, the ability to keep animals warm and buoyant. Oil spills in the past have created major die-offs of marine animals and their effects have persisted for years.
Extent of the spill still unclear
The tanker is estimated to be carrying up to 100,000 tonnes of oil. At OceanCare we all hope that a major spill can be avoided and whilst the precise immediate cause of this accident may take some time to resolve, OceanCare views oil spills as one of the nasty ongoing symptoms of our addiction to the use of fossil fuels. This reliance is fuelling climate change and threatening our futures in so many ways.
Join us in calling for an urgent transition away from fossil fuels before more incidents like this will happen.
Sources
BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news
ITV: https://www.itv.com/news/2025-03-10/what-are-the-environmental-impacts-of-a-potential-oil-spill
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