LONDON, March 14. /TASS/. Five Russian nationals, including the captain, were onboard the Solong container ship that rammed the Stena Immaculate tanker in the North Sea off the UK coast, the Russian embassy in London said.
"According to the shipowner, the Solong crew included five Russian citizens, with the captain among them. The captain was detained by British competent organs and is currently under investigation. All the members of the crew are alive. They did not sustain any injuries in the accident and their health is out of danger," it said in a statement that was handed over to TASS.
"In the evening on March 13, diplomats from the embassy’s consular department had a phone call with the ship’s captain. He said that he was feeling well. He has been provided with an interpreter and a lawyer. Our employees are in touch with them," the embassy said, adding that it is maintaining "close contracts with the British relevant agencies, including with the police station where the captain is being held," and with his wife. The captain’s name was not disclosed.
On March 10, the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong collided in the North Sea with the US-flagged tanker Stena Immaculate, which was anchored at the time. The impact set off multiple explosions aboard the tanker and ruptured its cargo tank, causing a release of some jet fuel into the sea. Both vessels caught fire. On March 14, the police extended the detention of the container ship’s captain for 36 hours.