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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday that the aftermath of a tanker crash off the English coast earlier this week is reasonably contained.
This comes as fears of an environmental disaster ease and focus shifts to determining how the incident occurred.
One crew member is presumed dead after the Solong, a Portuguese-flagged container ship, crashed at nearly full speed on Monday into the Stena Immaculate, an anchored tanker carrying U.S. military jet fuel.
The collision reportedly triggered massive fires and explosions, spilling jet fuel into the sea.
The tanker remains at anchor with a gaping hole in its side, while the badly burnt container ship has been stabilized after initial fears that it might sink.
“At the moment, the situation is reasonably contained. As for the cause, that is yet to be determined. There’s a process in place, but we have to get to the bottom of it,” Starmer said.
Initial concerns of an environmental disaster have subsided, with preliminary assessments indicating that the jet fuel mostly burned off, and there is no sign of additional leaks from either ship.
The Solong’s captain, a Russian national, was taken into custody on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter following his arrest on Tuesday.
This offence applies to situations where a death results from a grossly negligent act or omission.
In a statement, local police said a judge granted detectives an extra 36 hours to question the captain.
All 36 other crew members from both vessels survived the incident and were brought to shore.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) announced in a separate statement that it would lead the safety investigation, aiming to establish the cause of the crash and prevent similar incidents in the future.
The MAIB said it would inspect both vessels and retrieve their Voyage Data Recorders once it is safe to do so. The investigation will examine factors such as crew fatigue management, navigational practices, and weather conditions at the time of the crash.
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