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COLLISION. A view shows the damaged cargo ship Solong, after it collided with a hull of Stena Immaculate oil tanker ship, as seen from Saltfleet, Britain, March 11, 2025.
Phil Noble/REUTERS
The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) calls for a transparent, impartial, and internationally coordinated investigation into the collision
MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino seafarer has gone missing following a collision between a chemical tanker and container ship off the northeast coast of England, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed on Thursday, March 13.
Citing reports from the involved licensed manning agency, the seaman was onboard MV Solong, which collided with Oil Tanker Stena Immaculate at the North Sea on Monday, March 10, at around 10 am local time in Humber Estuary, Hull, United Kingdom.
The seaman was last seen at the bow of the vessel. This was the same area that caught on fire after a massive explosion.
The missing seafarer is among nine Filipinos who were on MV Solong, a Portuguese-flagged ship that had a crew of 14. The other eight Filipinos were rescued, and are currently accommodated at a hotel in Grimsby, London, waiting for repatriation.
British authorities also rescued American and Russian seafarers. Meanwhile, the Russian captain of Solong was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.
The DMW said that UK authorities, in coordination with the flag states, were still investigating the cause of the incident.
The missing seafarer’s family has been informed. The manning agency also reportedly committed to providing them daily updates.
“The DMW is in close coordination with the LMA and the families of the affected seafarers to ensure that all necessary assistance and support are being provided during this difficult time,” the department said.
In its own statement on Thursday, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) called for a transparent, impartial, and internationally coordinated investigation into the collision.
The ITF said that the missing seafarer was presumed dead, a label the DMW refrained from using.
“There are crucial questions that remain unanswered in the wake of this tragedy, and these must be addressed through a full and transparent internationally coordinated investigations, with the full cooperation of all the jurisdictions involved and all relevant national and international maritime authorities,” said ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton.
Cotton emphasized the importance of understanding the crew’s working conditions.
“Our primary focus is supporting the affected seafarers. One of our inspectors is on-site, maintaining contact with American union representatives who have been dispatched to the area, as well as the crew of the Solong, to ensure they receive the necessary care and support,” said Cotton. – with reports from Reuters/Rappler.com
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