Russian captain of cargo ship in North Sea collision in custody over suspicion of manslaughter

A Russian citizen was in command of the Solong cargo ship when it crashed into a stationary oil tanker off the UK’s coast, the ship's owners confirmed on Wednesday.

Ernst Russ, the German shipping company that owns the Solong, said that the captain is a Russian citizen and is in police custody on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. 

The remainder of the crew consists of Russian and Filipino nationals with one crew member currently missing and presumed dead.

The collision occurred on Monday when the Solong, travelling southbound from Grangemouth, Scotland to Rotterdam, Netherlands struck the US-registered Stena Immaculate. 

Maritime tracking data shows the oil tanker was stationary at the time of impact.

The Stena Immaculate, carrying jet fuel under charter for the US military, had departed from Greece and was bound for Hull when the incident took place approximately 40 kilometres off of Grimsby's coastline.

Despite the Russian nationality of the captain, UK government officials maintain their initial assessment that national security concerns are not a primary factor in the collision. 

The investigation remains in the preliminary stages with several elements showing it was not caused deliberately. 

The Solong's ownership by an established German corporation stands in contrast to ships previously implicated in Baltic Sea cable sabotage incidents, which typically operate under minimal regulation with obscured ownership structures.

The cargo ship was flying a Portuguese flag, and Ernst Russ has pledged full cooperation with authorities.

Initial concerns about the Solong's stability have eased since Tuesday evening. 

The cargo ship, which had been drifting southward and on fire, has now been secured to tugboats, reducing both drift and sinking risks.

"Detectives are continuing to conduct extensive lines of inquiry alongside partners in connection with the collision," Humberside Police stated on Wednesday morning, confirming the captain remains in custody.