🚨 Kerosene leak, explosion on board and 32 injured: all the details about this worrying maritime accident!
🌊 A spectacular collision in the North Sea: what happened?
On March 10, an impressive collision occurred in the North Sea between a tanker carrying kerosene and a cargo ship loaded with sodium cyanide. The accident caused a major fire, leading to the abandonment of the ships by their crews and resulting in at least 32 injuries.
According to initial reports, a kerosene leak is raising concerns among authorities and environmental agencies. This tragedy reignites the debate on maritime safety and ecological risks in the North Sea.
💡 In this article, discover:
✔️ The causes and circumstances of the accident 🚢
✔️ The risks of marine pollution 🌍
✔️ The reactions of experts and authorities 🔎
✔️ Why maritime safety needs to be strengthened ⚠️
🚢 Key facts: a collision with serious consequences
🔴 Two ships involved:
- The Stena Immaculate, a tanker flying the American flag, was carrying kerosene for the US military.
- The Solong, a Portuguese cargo, was carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide and alcohol.
⏳ The accident in a few numbers:
📍 Location: North Sea, off the coast of Yorkshire (England)
⏰ Time: Just before 10 a.m.
👨✈️ Evacuated crew: 36 people
🏥 Injuries: 32, including one hospitalized
🔥 Fire reported: Yes, with several explosions
🌊 Kerosene leak: Confirmed
🎥 Dramatic images broadcast by the BBC show the ships in flames, with black smoke rising over the sea. The intervention of the coast guard allowed for the evacuation of the crews.
🌍 An ecological disaster in the making?
One of the biggest fears after this collision is the risk of an oil spill. The kerosene leak could contaminate the waters of the North Sea, severely affecting marine life and the fragile ecosystem of the region.
🛑 Why does this pollution cause concern?
✔️ Kerosene disperses quickly in water and can be absorbed by wildlife.
✔️ Sodium cyanide is a highly toxic substance that could poison local waters.
✔️ Weather conditions will play a key role in the spread of pollutants.
🗣 Greenpeace reacts: “It is too early to measure the exact impact, but the speed of the collision and the nature of the substances transported are very concerning.”
The British coast guard is closely monitoring the situation, and experts are on-site to assess the extent of environmental damage.
⚠️ Why could this collision have been avoided?
This catastrophe highlights the flaws in maritime safety and raises several questions:
❌ Why did a tanker and a cargo ship collide in the North Sea, a highly monitored area?
❌ Was there human error or a technical problem?
❌ Are navigation and collision prevention systems outdated?
🌍 Context: The North Sea is a very busy maritime area, with intense traffic of commercial vessels, tankers, and fishing boats. Increased monitoring and stricter protocols are essential to avoid this type of accident.
🔎 The first hypotheses put forward:
✅ Visibility problem? Difficult weather conditions that day.
✅ Human error? A communication failure between vessels.
✅ Failure of anti-collision radars? An investigation is underway.
👀 This accident recalls previous disasters in the North Sea, such as the collision of the Flinterstar in 2015, which caused an oil spill off the coast of Belgium.
📌 Key takeaways
💥 Two vessels collided in the North Sea: an American tanker and a Portuguese cargo.
🔥 Major fire and explosion: 32 injured and one person hospitalized.
🌊 High environmental risk: kerosene leak and transport of sodium cyanide.
🚢 Investigation ongoing: a failure in maritime safety is suspected.
📢 And you, what do you think?
💬 Could this collision have been avoided? Share your thoughts in the comments and on social media!

Julie Lambert – Travel & News Blogger
Passionate about discoveries and current events, I share my adventures around the world along with insights on key societal issues. From travel stories to news analysis, join me in exploring and understanding the world!