Tanker bursts into flames on impact with cargo ship in North Sea, 37 rescued

A dramatic collision has happened between an oil tanker and a cargo ship in the North Sea off the northeast coast of England, and has triggered a large-scale emergency operation on Monday, March 10. 

At least 37 people were saved after an oil tanker and a cargo ship collided and caught fire in the North Sea off the coast of East Yorkshire, England on Monday, March 10.

At least 37 casualties were brought ashore, but their condition was not immediately clear. Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, said 18 casualties were brought in on a Windcat 33 vessel, followed by another 19 on a harbour pilot boat.

The U.K. coastguard coordinated a rescue operation amid reports that crew members had abandoned ship, according to the BBC and Sky News. The alarm was raised at 9:48 a.m. local time the coastguard confirmed in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

The tanker involved in the accident was the US-flagged Stena Immaculate, while the other was the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong, according to Sky News.

Per the BBC, Stena Immaculate had been heading from Agio Theodoroi in Greece to Killingholme in the U.K. when the incident occurred.

Thirty-two people have since been brought ashore, per the BBC. The condition of the casualties is unknown as of yet, the outlet reported.

Port of Grimsby East chief executive, Martyn Boyers, said that he'd been told there was a "massive fireball" following the collision, but noted that the ships were too far away from shore to see.

Stena Bulk chief executive, Erik Hanell, added to the BBC that all Stena Immaculate crew were now safe and accounted for. Hanell told the outlet that it was over 20 people.

In a release obtained by PEOPLE on Monday morning, the U.K. coastguard said, "HM Coastguard is currently co-ordinating the emergency response to reports of a collision between a tanker and cargo vessel off the coast of East Yorkshire resulting in fires aboard both vessels."

The release added, "A Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Humberside was called, alongside lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Maplethorpe and Cleethorpes, an HM Coastguard fixed wing aircraft, and nearby vessels with fire-fighting capability."

"The incident remains ongoing and an assessment of the likely counter-pollution response required is being enacted," it concluded.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) said in a statement to PEOPLE that four lifeboat crews had "been called to an incident off the East Yorkshire coast" on Monday.

RNLI confirmed that the lifeboats had responded at 10:20 a.m. to reports of two vessels being involved in a collision with each other.

"There were reports that a number of people had abandoned the vessels following a collision and there were fires on both ships," the statement said.

"By 11.40 a.m., Cleethorpes had been stood down while Bridlington, Mablethorpe and Skegness continued to support search and rescue efforts," it added. "The incident is ongoing with the RNLI and HM Coastguard working together."

The tanker is "managed by U.S. logistics firm Crowley and owned by Sweden's Stena Sphere, which is controlled by the billionaire Olsson family," per the BBC.

The outlet added that the tanker is one of 10 involved in a U.S. government program

 "which is designed to supply the armed forces with fuel during times of armed conflict or national emergency." There were no signs that it was being used for this when the incident occurred.

Per the Marine Traffic website, Stena Immaculate is around 600 feet long and around 105 feet wide. Meanwhile, the Solong is around 461 feet long and 71.5 feet wide.

Port of Grimsby East chief executive, Boyers, said of the collision, "They must have sent a mayday out — luckily there was a crew transfer vessel out there already," per the BBC. "Since then there has been a flotilla of ambulances to pick up anyone they can find."

Bowers confirmed to PEOPLE that three vessels had brought casualties ashore, adding that 32 people had been rescued alive.

Stena and the chief executives of the Port of Grimsby and Stena Bulk didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment.

The incident, which was reported at 9.48 GMT, occurred off the coast of East Yorkshire, prompting a rapid response from the UK’s HM Coastguard. The tanker, which is said to be carrying aviation-grade fuel, is said to have immediately caught fire on impact with the container ship.

The UK Coast Guard is coordinating emergency responses, and have deployed aircraft and rescue boats from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe, and Cleethorpes. Vessels in the vicinity with firefighting capabilities have also been called to assist in containing the blaze on the tanker, which has been identified as the Stena Immaculate. The cargo ship involved, the Solong, is said to have struck the anchored tanker near to the Humber Estuary, igniting a chaotic scene.

Details remain scarce as the operation unfolds, with no immediate reports on casualties or for that matter the extent of environmental damage. The coastguard described the situation as ‘ongoing,’ emphasising the urgency of the rescue and containment efforts in this busy maritime corridor. The North Sea, a vital shipping route connecting Britain, the Netherlands and Germany, now faces potential disruptions as authorities assess the aftermath.

Local TV channels and eyewitnesses captured plumes of thick black smoke rising from the collision site, visible from the Withernsea coastline, intensifying concerns over a possible oil spill. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, with questions and rumours about navigation errors or mechanical failures. For now, the priority remains rescuing any crew members stuck on board the two ships, and limiting the spread of the fire.

As updates trickle in, the incident highlights the risks of maritime traffic in the region. Residents along the coast and environmental groups are on edge, awaiting word on the full scope of this unfolding disaster, and especially the risk of oil slicks washing ashore. The coastguard has promised further statements as the situation stabilises, while the world watches a tense drama unfold on the chilly open waters of the North Sea.