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Burnt-Out Tanker Stena Immaculate To Leave Great Yarmouth After Six Months
After nearly six months docked at Great Yarmouth, the damaged tanker Stena Immaculate is set to be towed out of the port later this week, though its next destination has not been confirmed.
The tanker was badly damaged earlier this year following a high-speed collision in the North Sea, which caused a large fire, an oil spill, and the death of a crew member on the other ship involved.
The incident happened on March 10 when the US-flagged Stena Immaculate, carrying over 220,000 barrels of aviation fuel for the U.S. military, was hit by the Portuguese-flagged containership Solong near the entrance to the Humber Estuary.
The collision breached a fuel tank on the tanker and caused intense fires on both ships that burned for days before crews abandoned them.
The collision also caused environmental damage, with fuel oil and plastic nurdles (small plastic granules used in manufacturing) spilling into the sea, some washing ashore on Norfolk and Lincolnshire beaches.
Video Credits: The Manila Times/YouTube
Salvage teams later transferred most of the tanker’s cargo to another vessel under the supervision of the operators, Crowley and Stena Bulk. The burnt-out tanker was then moved to Great Yarmouth’s outer harbour in April for detailed assessment and salvage work. During its stay, food from the vessel’s galley was donated to a local food bank, a gesture appreciated by locals.
Port records show the Stena Immaculate will be towed about 10 miles north of Great Yarmouth near Winterton-on-Sea. Initially expected to depart on September 24, the operation has been delayed to September 26. No details have been given about where it will go next.
The tanker has been reflagged from the US to Malta while the process of determining its next steps continues, according to Stena Bulk.
The Solong, which suffered extensive damage in the crash, was towed to Aberdeen for cleanup before being sold for demolition and sent to Belgium in August.
Video Credits: The Sun/YouTube
The master of the Solong, Vladimir Motin, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter over the death of a crew member. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody in the UK, with further hearings scheduled for November and a trial set for January 2026.
A preliminary UK Marine Accident Investigation report said the containership’s bridge was unattended at the time, despite reduced visibility due to patchy fog. The ship was moving at about 16 knots when it struck the tanker. The investigation will also review safety procedures and anchorage arrangements for the area.
Port authorities in Great Yarmouth said they worked closely with the Department for Transport, the Maritime Coastguard Agency, and the vessel’s owners to handle the incident and provide safe harbour under UK regulations and international maritime standards.
Crowley, the tanker’s operator, confirmed in August that the Stena Immaculate has been replaced in the U.S. Tanker Security Program by the CS Anthem.
References: BBC
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