By Rear Admiral Sanjay Roye AVSM VSM (R)
On March 10, 13 nautical miles off the coast of the northeastern UK port of Hull, a catastrophic collision occurred in the North Sea between the anchored U.S.-flagged oil tanker Stena Immaculate and the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong.
As reported by ABC News, the impact caused both ships to burst into flames, resulting in significant property loss and extensive environmental damage.
The Stena Immaculate, chartered by the US military, was carrying jet fuel, a hazardous cargo, and its rupture led to an uncontrollable blaze. Images of the fire onboard the Solong are very disturbing.
Thirty-six crew members were rescued, but one crew member from the Solong remains unaccounted for and is presumed dead.
The captain of the Solong was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence leading to manslaughter. Investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing, but early reports suggest a combination of navigational errors, miscommunication, and adverse weather conditions.
While the North Sea incident is tragic, it is not an isolated event. It reflects a global crisis of increasing maritime collisions, causing economic losses, ecological disasters, and loss of human life.
This article examines the causes and consequences of collisions at sea, analyzes recent trends, and proposes necessary measures for safer maritime navigation.
The Environmental Ramifications Of Collisions
Environmental damage is one of the most immediate and devastating consequences of maritime collisions. Oil spills, chemical leaks, and debris pollution can wreak havoc on marine ecosystems.
In the case of the Stena Immaculate, large amounts of jet fuel were released into the North Sea, threatening marine biodiversity. The announcement that only two of her fuel tanks were breached is the only good news in this incident.
According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), oil spills have declined overall in the last two decades due to improved regulations, but accidents involving large tankers still account for significant marine pollution.
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill released over 4.9 million barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, devastating marine life and coastal economies. Even smaller-scale spills can be catastrophic for local ecosystems.
The North Sea is home to sensitive marine habitats, including fish breeding grounds and migratory bird sanctuaries. When hazardous substances enter these waters, they can cause long-term damage to marine species.
According to environmental organizations, a single litre of oil can contaminate up to 1 million litres of seawater, disrupting the delicate balance of marine life. Birds, marine mammals, and fish populations suffer long-term health effects, often leading to ecosystem collapse.
Interestingly, Maritime Fair Trade reports that beyond immediate pollution, shipping collisions also contribute to underwater noise pollution, which disrupts communication and navigation for marine animals such as whales and dolphins. The cumulative effects of these incidents make it imperative for the maritime industry to adopt stricter environmental safety measures.
The Human Cost: Lives Lost At Sea
Beyond environmental damage, collisions at sea lead to tragic human casualties. While modern ships are equipped with advanced navigation technology, human error remains one of the primary causes of maritime accidents.
According to the Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2023, human error accounts for nearly 75% of marine accidents, often due to fatigue, poor decision-making, or lack of training. Maritime workers operate in challenging conditions, and exhaustion can impair their ability to respond effectively to critical situations.
In the past five years, maritime collisions have led to hundreds of fatalities worldwide. The 2022 collision between the USS Fitzgerald and MV ACX Crystal off the coast of Japan resulted in the deaths of seven U.S. sailors.
Investigations revealed that inadequate communication and a failure to follow collision avoidance protocols were contributing factors.
Even when no lives are lost, collisions often lead to severe injuries and mental trauma for surviving crew members. Many sailors develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following such incidents, affecting their ability to continue working at sea.
Collisions at Sea: A Statistical Perspective
Over the past five years, maritime collisions have remained a persistent issue. Based on reports from Lloyd’s List Intelligence, a global leader in maritime data, the number of recorded ship collisions per year has averaged 350 to 400 incidents globally.
Notable Collisions In Recent Years:
March 2023: The Greek bulk carrier Sea Rose collided with a fishing vessel near the Strait of Gibraltar, leading to an oil spill that took months to contain.
November 2022: A Singaporean-flagged container ship MV Ever Gifted crashed into a dock in Taiwan, causing significant structural damage and disrupting global shipping routes.
April 2021: The X-Press Pearl, a Sri Lankan container ship, caught fire and sank after a collision, releasing tons of toxic chemicals into the Indian Ocean.
These incidents underline the ongoing risks faced by the shipping industry and the broader global trade network.
Causes Of Maritime Collisions
While each collision has unique circumstances, certain common factors contribute to most maritime accidents. Investigations reveal that most incidents at sea can be attributed to human error, poor communication, weather, technical failures, or traffic.
Human Error: Fatigue, misjudgement, and inexperience are leading causes of ship collisions. Late reactions to taking early avoidance measures or establishing communication further adversely affect the situation at sea. Analysis of 41 major incidents at sea in the last 25 years points towards failure to maintain a proper lookout and to take early avoiding action as common contributing factors to collisions.
Poor Communication: Failures in ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication can lead to misinterpretations, resulting in disastrous outcomes.
Adverse Weather Conditions: Storms, fog, and rough seas make navigation challenging and increase the likelihood of collisions.
Technical Failures: Malfunctions in radar, GPS, and propulsion and steering systems can impair a vessel’s ability to avoid accidents.
Congested Shipping Lanes: Major global trade routes, such as the Suez Canal, Strait of Malacca, Red Sea, and English Channel, witness heavy maritime traffic, making navigation riskier.
Prevention: Steps Toward Safer Navigation
Preventing maritime collisions requires a multi-pronged approach involving regulation, technology, and better training for crew members. Most solutions for safe navigation and collision avoidance at sea are already in place. Yet, every investigation highlights the lack of its usage or adherence in some form or the other. Some key steps continue to include:
Stronger Adherence to COLREGs: The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), adopted by the IMO, serve as the global standard for maritime navigation safety. Ensuring strict compliance is crucial.
Advanced Vessel Monitoring Systems: Real-time vessel tracking, Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), and AI-powered predictive analytics can help prevent accidents by identifying potential collision threats early.
Improved Crew Training and Fatigue Management: Mandatory rest periods, better onboard work conditions, and simulation-based training for emergency scenarios can significantly reduce human errors. Watchkeeping, either underway, at anchorage or in port, is a fundamental duty in the operation of a vessel, for the safety of life and property and the protection of the marine environment.
The bridge of any vessel should always be appropriately manned and the person in charge of a navigational watch should not undertake any other duties that would interfere with the safe navigation of the vessel. All bridge watchkeepers should maintain a continuous listening watch on VHF Channel 16. Elementary, one may say, but often the most glaring abnormality.
Mandatory Use of Anti-Collision Technologies: Maritime Fair Trade’s 2025 report stated that newer ships should be equipped with collision avoidance radars, enhanced night vision systems, and remote monitoring from onshore control centres.
Stronger Environmental Regulations: Governments and international bodies should impose harsher penalties for companies that fail to comply with safety and environmental standards.
Conclusion: The Future Of Safe Maritime Navigation
The recent North Sea collision is a stark reminder that despite technological advancements, the maritime industry remains vulnerable to catastrophic accidents. As global trade continues to grow, shipping lanes will only become more congested, increasing the risk of collisions at sea. This will further become more ‘foggy,’ with the likelihood of unmanned or remotely operated vessels at sea in the not-so-distant future.
Governments, shipping companies, and international regulatory bodies must work together to implement better safety protocols, stricter environmental protections, and enhanced training programs. If maritime navigation is to become safer and more sustainable, immediate action is necessary.
The seas should be highways of commerce and connectivity, not scenes of human error and environmental destruction. It is time to rethink maritime safety and steer towards a future where collisions at sea are a rarity rather than a tragic norm.
- Rear Admiral Sanjay Roye AVSM VSM (Retd.), Indian Navy, is a former Captain of the Akula-class SSN INS Chakra and Flag Officer Commanding Gujarat Naval Area. He is a keen follower of maritime and strategic events.
- He may be contacted at sanjayroye (at) gmail.com
