Collision between oil tanker and cargo ship sees 37 casualties 

Shipping industry sources told Reuters the two vessels involved were the chemical tanker Stena Immaculate and the container ship Solong.

More than 35 casualties have been brought ashore after a crash between an oil tanker and a cargo ship in the North Sea.

Footage shows clouds of black smoke billowing into the air after the collision off the coast of East Yorkshire on Monday morning.

So far 37 casualties have been brought ashore.

Speaking to the BBC, local Conservative politician confirmed that all mariners across both crews were accounted for.

He said that one person was hospitalised.

Lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter were called to the collision in the Humber Estuary just before 10am involving US-flagged tanker Stena Immaculate and Portuguese-registered container ship Solong.

The American tanker was at anchor, according to ship tracking tool Vesselfinder.

Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, told the PA news agency 13 casualties were initially brought in on a Windcat 33 vessel, followed by another 10 on a harbour pilot boat and nine on another pilot’s vessel.

Mr Boyers said he had been told there was “a massive fireball”, adding: “It’s too far out for us to see — about 10 miles — but we have seen the vessels bringing them in.

“They must have sent a mayday out — luckily there was a crew transfer vessel out there already.

“Since then there has been a flotilla of ambulances to pick up anyone they can find.” 

Footage of the incident showed at least one vessel on fire, with clouds of black smoke coming out of the oil tanker.

Britain's Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “I’m concerned to hear of the collision between two vessels in the North Sea this morning and am liaising with officials and HM Coastguard as the situation develops.

“I want to thank all emergency service workers involved for their continued efforts in responding to the incident.” A spokesperson for the Marine Accident Investigation Branch said it has deployed investigators to Grimsby.

She added: “Our team of inspectors and support staff are gathering evidence and undertaking a preliminary assessment of the accident to determine our next steps.”

The area where the collision took place is a busy stretch of waterway with traffic running from the ports along Britain's northeast coast to the Netherlands and Germany, shipping industry sources said.

Maritime analytics website Marine Traffic showed a number of vessels including container ships and oil tankers in the area of the North Sea where the collision occurred.

The United Nations shipping agency, the International Maritime Organization, said it was aware of the situation and is checking further.

The alarm for the incident, which remains ongoing, was raised at 0948 GMT.