A major maritime incident off Yorkshire's coast has entered its critical environmental response phase after rescue operations concluded for 36 crew members, with one sailor still missing from the cargo vessel MV Solong following its collision with the US tanker Stena Immaculate early Monday morning [1][4].

The collision occurred around 9:48 AM on March 10th when the Portugal-flagged container ship Solong struck the anchored Stena Immaculate approximately 13 miles off the Yorkshire coast [2]. The impact caused multiple explosions and fires on both vessels, which continue to burn as of March 11th [2].

The Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated tanks, with at least one tank confirmed ruptured [2]. Adding to environmental concerns, the Solong was reportedly transporting 15 containers of sodium cyanide, a highly toxic chemical that can release dangerous gases when mixed with water [3].

Maritime experts are particularly concerned about two distinct environmental threats. Professor Tiago Alves of Cardiff University notes that while jet fuel tends to evaporate quickly, the presence of heavier bunker fuel from both ships poses a longer-term risk [3]. Environmental specialist Nicky Cariglia explains that response teams must carefully model weather and sea conditions to determine the most effective containment strategy [3].

The incident location presents additional environmental challenges, as it sits near significant wildlife habitats. Martin Slater, director of operations at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, warns of potential impacts on "significant colonies of seabirds including puffins, razorbills, gannets and kittiwakes" gathering for nesting season [2].

Investigation into the cause continues, with both the US and Portugal leading the inquiry [2]. Questions remain about the failure of modern navigation systems and possible contributing factors, including reports of heavy fog during the incident [1].