STENA IMMACULATE

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Tanker waiting for cargo transfer

Claims for compensation are being made against the owner of the 'Solong', which was towed to Aberdeen, where it is expected to be declared a total loss. The battle for the large amounts of compensation has already begun in the British courts, where the legal aftermath will take place, as the alision occurred in British waters. The owner, the German shipping company Ernst Russ, has set up a so-called “limitation fund” at the Admiralty Court in London, a legal maneuver that will place a financial limit on how much compensation can be paid. All containers on board the vessel, which sailed for the Icelandic shipping company Samskip, have been destroyed in the fire. The expected constructive total loss of the ship is triggering the full amount of compensation. In addition, en there is the damage on board the 'Stena Immaculate', to which is added the value of the aviation fuel that was in the damaged tank. The tanker is still at anchor in pos. 53° 44' N 000° 24' E, waiting for the aviation fuel in the ship's intact tanks to be transferred to the tanker 'Fure Vyl'. After the STS, the plan is to tow the 'Stena Immaculate' to Newcastle upon Tyne, where the damage will be assessed.

Owner of Solong setting up a fund for potential lawsuits over the allision

The owner of the 'Solöng' said on March 31 that he was setting up a fund for potential lawsuits over the allision wit the 'Stena Immaculate'. The MS Solong Schiffahrtsgesellschaft M & Co KG, a subsidiary of Ernst Russ, which owns the container ship, was sued at London’s High Court on that day by the operators of the 'Stena Immaculate'. The Ernst Russ subsidiary brought a separate case at the specialist Admiralty Court seeking a limitation of liability. That case is being brought against the Dutch logistics firm Samskip, which previously said the 'Solong' was carrying Samskip containers, and all other persons claiming or being entitled to claim loss or damage over the allision. Ernst Russ was setting up a limitation fund, which will be available for parties who have verified claims against the 'Solong'’s owner. The incident occurred in territorial waters of the UK and there are interested parties and potential claimants residing in the UK, such as public authorities, hence the setting up of a fund in the UK is the most appropriate way forward. The owners of the 'Solong' were seeking to face claims and ensure a fund is available for any proven claims. The fund provides necessary security for potential claimants’ claims. On April 1 the 'Fure Vyl' was attended by the tug 'Svitzer Laura' (IMO: 9234147 ), while the tugs 'Brage Viking' (IMO: 9475791 ) and 'Triton' (IMO: 9451537 ) were moored in the vicinity of the 'Stena Immaculate'.

Fuel transferred to Fure Vyl

The 'Stena Immaculate' is set to be towed to Newcastle after the cargo has been removed. Crowley, which manages the tanker, stated the remaining barrels of jet fuel on board would be transferred to the tanker 'Fure Vyl' (IMO: 9983956), and it would be towed to Newcastle in early April, and said: "Salvage crews are continuing to complete their assessments and preparing for cargo lightering operations. During the weekend of March 29-30, operations will commence at sea to transfer the remaining 202,485 barrels of Jet-A1 cargo from the 'Stena Immaculate' to the tanker 'Fure Vyl', which is anchored nearby. This lightering operation is a standard and routing maritime practice that follows established safety protocols." The jet fuel will then be taken to its original destination of Killingholme. As of March 30, the 'Fure Vyl' was stationary at the anchorage of the 'Stena Immaculate' in pos. 53° 44' N 000° 25' E. The offshore tug 'Brage Viking' (IMO: 9475791) remained nearby. Crowley continues to work with the authorities investigating the crash and remains committed to the salvage efforts. The captain of the 'Solong', Vladimir Motin, 59, from St Petersburg, Russia, appeared at the Old Bailey charged with gross negligence manslaughter and was remanded in custody. He is due to stand trial in Jan 2026. Report with photos: https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2025-03-28/oil-tanker-involved-in-north-sea-crash-to-be-towed-to-newcastle?fbclid=IwY2xjawJWm3VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHUMdzJQxeq7uDy08NwKqVzmvz7VJVPDJiJiHRMK-cT2fWXNNrurgoysLqg_aem_4UIBqL2ci6v7OHrThqwKTQ