Stena Immaculate Sold Following Fatal North Sea Collision
Stena Immaculate Sold Following Fatal North Sea Collision
Stena Bulk announced the sale of the oil tanker Stena Immaculate, which suffered severe damage following a tragic collision in the North Sea in March. According to the company's statement, the vessel was transferred to a buyer for repair and preparation to return to service and will be repaired at Desan Shipyard.
With the sale, the vessel was re-flagged from the United States flag to the Malta flag. In its statement, Stena Bulk thanked all parties involved in the salvage and cargo transfer operations for their professional support and cooperation.
This sale took place seven months after the collision, which resulted in one fatality and caused a significant aviation fuel spill.
Collision details
The incident occurred on March 10, 2025, near the Humber Estuary off the English coast, approximately 14 nautical miles northeast of Spurn Head. The Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong struck the anchored Stena Immaculate tanker at 09:47 while sailing at 16 knots.
The collision ruptured the tanker's No. 7 starboard fuel tank, spilling approximately 220,000 barrels (220,204.5 barrels) of aviation fuel into the sea. As a result of the impact, fuel also splashed onto the Solong's bow, and a fire broke out quickly. The flames spread to cargo containers on the upper deck of the container ship.
The collision claimed the life of Mark Pernia, a Filipino deck seaman aboard the Solong, who went missing and was not found despite search efforts. UK authorities concluded that Pernia had died.
Investigation and legal proceedings
In the preliminary report released by the UK Maritime Accidents Investigation Branch (MAIB), it was noted that visibility in the incident area ranged from 0.25 to 2 nautical miles. The report also revealed that neither vessel had a dedicated lookout on the bridge at the time.
Following these findings, Solong's captain Vladimir Motin was arrested to stand trial on charges of gross negligence manslaughter.
In MAIB's final report:
navigation and watchkeeping practices,
crew fatigue management,
vessel maintenance condition,
safety of the offshore area used as an anchorage at the Humber entrance,
and the impact of environmental factors on the collision will be evaluated.
Investigations into the collision were not limited to the UK; authorities from the United States and Portugal are also conducting their own independent investigations due to the international nature of the incident.
Stena Immaculate's new status
Following the collision, the decision was made to withdraw Stena Immaculate from the Stena Bulk fleet. In August 2025, the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) approved the CS Anthem tanker as a replacement under the Tanker Security Program (TSP). As a result, CS Anthem, together with other tankers managed by Crowley named Stena Imperative and Stena Impeccable, joined the Department of Defense's strategic fuel fleet.
The sale of Stena Immaculate allows the company to end the technical and financial burden resulting from the collision, while creating a repair and return-to-service opportunity for the new buyer. The vessel will undergo comprehensive technical renovation at Desan Shipyard in Istanbul Tuzla.
Industrial implications
According to experts, the incident has brought into focus the security protocols of ship anchorage areas, navigational watchkeeping standards, and tanker traffic waiting in the Humber approaches. Particularly, the absence of a lookout in conditions of heavy fog and poor visibility is assessed as a critical vulnerability in such collisions.
Should Stena Immaculate return to service, the vessel is expected to be modernized in compliance with international environmental and safety standards.
Key Points:
Stena Immaculate suffered severe damage in a collision with the Solong vessel in March 2025.
The incident resulted in one fatality and 220,000 barrels of aviation fuel spilled into the sea.
Stena Bulk transferred the vessel to Desan Shipyard for repair.
The vessel was re-flagged from the United States flag to the Malta flag.
According to the MAIB report, neither vessel had a lookout on the bridge at the time of the collision.
Solong captain Vladimir Motin is charged with gross negligence manslaughter.
CS Anthem was included in the U.S. Tanker Security Program as a replacement for Stena Immaculate.
----------
News Link: https://gcaptain.com/stena-immaculate-sold-for-repairs-after-fatal-north-sea-collision/
--------------------
Author: SedatOnat.com
--------------------
!!! ANNOUNCEMENT !!!
How to Acquire ERP? Our book has been published on Google Play Books.
#What is ERP?
https://www.sedatonat.com/erpnasilalinir You can download and read it for free through the link.
Your feedback will make us happy.
We wish you happy reading.