Video shows cargo ship hitting US military fuel tanker in North Sea

A newly released video captures the moment when the cargo ship "Sologne" collided with a tanker chartered by the U.S. military off the British coast in the North Sea. The incident occurred between the "Sologne" and the 183-meter-long "Stena Perros," resulting in a fire on the "Sologne" and the leakage of aviation fuel into the sea.

The accident resulted in one crew member going missing and presumed dead. Video taken by the thermal imaging camera of another ship shows the "Sologne" hitting the "Stena Perros," immediately triggering an explosion. Small-scale fires remain on the top deck of the "Sologne," while the flames on the "Stena Perros" were extinguished on Wednesday. According to the Coast Guard, both ships are currently in "stable" condition.

The 59-year-old Russian captain of the "Sologne" has been arrested by British police and is being held on suspicion of gross negligence and manslaughter. Police have been granted an extension of 36 hours for interrogation. Experts told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that there was no evidence that the cargo ship attempted to take evasive action before the collision on Monday, raising concerns about an environmental disaster.

Andy Tissdale, a marine safety consultant at the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology in London, said: "We can see that there may be some problems with the 'Sologne' because, judging from the route tracking, there is no sign of avoidance or deceleration." Dr. Golam Reza Emad of the Australian Maritime College at the University of Tasmania believes that the captain and chief mate of the "Sologne" were likely fatigued. "Looking at historical AIS data [a maritime communication device]... to me, it indicates that the crew had been working," Dr. Emad said. "The data on the day of the accident showed that the course and speed did not change for hours, indicating no suspicious activity. It appears that the officer on duty at 09:47 [time of collision] did not see the ship (in foggy conditions) or was distracted and simply did not pay attention."

Benjamin Brooks, Associate Professor of Nautical and Maritime Operations at the University of Tasmania, told ABC that such maritime accidents are often caused by "complex and multi-dimensional" factors. Dr. Brooks said that in any situation where two ships collide, the crew may have lost situational awareness. "'Situational awareness' is a term used in the field of human factors to describe the level of awareness an operator has of the situation they are in," he explained. "It focuses on how operators develop and maintain a sufficient understanding of 'what is happening' to be successful in task execution." Dr. Brooks also stated that engine or rudder failure could also be a factor contributing to maritime collisions.

Andy Tissdale said that investigators will now review the data recorders of both ships – like the black boxes of airplanes – and listen back to radio messages between maritime traffic controllers and the local coast guard. Dr. Emad of the University of Tasmania said that the condition and maintenance records of the ships, as well as the environmental and weather conditions at the time of the incident, will also be investigated. The Coast Guard said that the "Sologne" has been towed to a safe location, while the "Stena Perros" remains anchored.

Reuters reported this week that there was still a fire on the "Sologne," but it was under control. The "Stena Perros" is one of 10 tankers transporting fuel to the U.S. military for the Pentagon's U.S. Tanker Security Program. Shipping industry sources told Reuters that the shutdown of the "Stena Perros" could pose logistical challenges for the U.S. military. "It may take several days for the hull to cool down sufficiently to allow boarding, assess the damage, and install tow lines to move the damaged hull," Mr. Tissdale said. "Then, salvagers will secure the remaining fuel on board and transport it to a safe port, which can reduce further damage, prevent potential pollution from spreading, and help investigators determine the root cause of the incident."

British police said the captain of the "Sologne" remains in custody and British detectives are continuing the investigation led by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch. **ABC/Telegraphic Draft**