Off the coast of the United Kingdom, there was a catastrophic collision between two large ships. One was the Solong, a cargo ship. The other was an oil tanker, the Stena Immaculate, which the U.S. Navy had charted. The collision was preventable, but who’s wondering what kind of ecological damage the event will have?
The Collision
The two vessels collided ten miles off the coast of Hull, England. The area is vital for fishing and marine life. Following the collision, both vessels burst into flames, and initially, authorities thought they would both sink, which would have had a disastrous impact on the ecosystem there.
Rescue Efforts
Immediately following the incident, the British Coast Guard and Royal National Lifeboat Institution launched a rescue effort to save those on board. Everyone aboard the Stella Immaculate was rescued, but one, who has been reported missing and feared to be deceased, as the vessels still cannot be boarded.
The Potential For Irreparable Damage
The Solong, a Portuguese container ship, was thought to be carrying a toxic chemical called sodium cyanide. The Stena Immaculate, chartered by the U.S. military, was carrying highly flammable jet fuel. If the two ships had sunk, a large amount of fuel would have spewed into the ocean, which would have had terrible consequences for the ecosystem.
Hazards Of Oil Spills
The environmental impact is clear when oil or fuel is spilled into the ocean due to collisions or other ship disasters. Thousands of marine animals are affected, and many marine birds and aquatic animals become covered in the substance, inhibiting respiratory efforts and leading to death.
Potential Pollutants
The jet fuel the Stena Immaculate carried is highly toxic to marine life. Thankfully, the Solong was not carrying any sodium cyanide at the time of the collision. Tensions remain as the true extent of the disaster is yet to be seen.
No Spills For Now
Graham Stuart, the MP for Beverley and Holderness in East Yorkshire, has stated, ” There is no evidence of pollution in the water or in the air to date.” However, he has admitted that that doesn’t mean engine oil isn’t a risk of leaking into the water.
Environmental Concerns
Many marine habitats are at risk of the pollutants potentially contaminating the water. Despite Stuart saying that any leaked jet fuel had burned off due to the inferno, testing kits are being provided to test the water and see if any contaminates have made it into the ecosystem.
The Wash
The Wash is a protected habitat that supports the life of many species. If any pollutants get into its ecosystem, species could be disrupted, leading to marine life die-off as the fragility of the food chain is tested as many animals rely on each other to live and thrive.
Air And Water Quality
Currently, the air quality remains at acceptable levels despite fuel being burned into the atmosphere. Still, beachgoers face a slightly increased risk of inhaling low-quality air. The water quality is the biggest concern for marine conservationists.
Investigation
The cause of the incident is being investigated, and the captain of the Solong has been arrested on suspicions of gross negligence manslaughter. The Counter Pollution and Salvage Team from the U.K. Coastguard is investigating the wider area where the collision happened, hoping to launch mitigation efforts against any pollutants.
Reducing The Chance Of Pollution
Mitigation efforts, such as booms and dispersal aircraft, can be deployed to help prevent the spread of fuel if a spillage is found. This will reduce the chance of ecosystem-wide contamination and save the lives of countless marine animals.
Monitoring Is Important
Now that the disaster is over, the area where the collision happened must be closely monitored to minimize further environmental risk. There could be long-term effects important marine ecosystems undergo that researchers must be on the lookout for. The criminal investigation as to how the preventable disaster occurred will continue.
