Major incident in North Sea as jet fuel ignites as ships collide

A MAJOR incident is devoloping in the North Sea following a collision off the East Yorkshire coast between a tanker carrying jet fuel and a container ship.

Reports say 37 people have been brought ashore and one person is in hospital.

The two ships involved are the oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate and cargo ship named Solong. The owners of the tanker say it was carrying jet fuel.

A coastguard rescue helicopter from Humberside Airport has been on scene and working with coastguard aircraft and other vessels with firefighting capability and lifeboats have been dispatched from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe and Cleethorpes.

Ambulances were reported to be rushing to help the injured and police were also on scene.

There are now concerns for wildlife in the area which may affected by the fuel spill with environmental groups preparing a response to do what they can for the affected animals.

The Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue committee is ready to help and is urging people to call their hotline on Cleethorpes 01472 472662 should they find any oiled birds along the coast and ask them not to try to handle the birds themselves.

For more information on this developing story, visit the BBC News website here North Sea tanker: Jet fuel spills into North Sea after tanker collision, as 37 people brought ashore - BBC News