Transport minister Mike Kane said the Government’s “working assumption” is a missing crew member from a cargo ship involved in a collision in the North Sea has died.
Mr Kane told the House of Commons : “The full crew of 23 on the Immaculate is accounted for and onshore. One sailor was treated at the scene but declined any further medical assistance. Thirteen of the 14 sailors of the MV Solong are accounted for. Search and rescue operations for the missing sailor continued throughout yesterday but were called off yesterday evening at the point at which the chances of their survival had unfortunately significantly diminished.
“Our working assumption is that, very sadly, the sailor is deceased. The coastguard has informed the company and it has been advised to inform the next of kin. Our thoughts are with the sailor’s loved ones at this time.”
He added: “We’ll do everything to recover the body from the mariner.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will meet Maritime and Coastguard Agency chief executive Virginia McVea later on Tuesday to discuss the latest situation and response.
The explosive clash between the US-flagged MV Stena Immaculate tanker and container ship Solong took placeat around 10am on Monday, with the former ship dramatically catching fire as it was docked at Grimsby port.
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