Much is still unclear about this collision between an oil tanker and a container ship in the North Sea. We know it will impact the environment, but how badly depends on at least three things, and it may take a while to assess the full extent.

The monumental collision between a cargo ship and oil tanker off the East Yorkshire coast on Monday clearly spells bad news for the sea, wildlife and air around it. While some details finally started to emerge on Tuesday, we still don’t know quite how bad it will be.

That depends on a few things – but the clouds of filthy black smoke from the fires that burned into the next morning are worrying for a start, and these fires have prevented authorities from moving in and assessing the damage.

Firstly, it matters what was on board those two massive vessels and how much has leaked into the water.

We now know the Solong cargo ship was not carrying sodium cyanide as was earlier feared. Four empty containers had carried it previously, and these are “being monitored”, owner Ernst Russ said.

We also know the 183m-long tanker Stena Immaculate was carrying about 220,000 barrels of jet fuel – it took a while for this to be confirmed on Monday – some of which has poured into the North Sea.

Jet fuel is not as sticky or viscous as heavier types of oil, and it can potentially evaporate or be broken down by natural bacteria.

That means it should not clog the feathers and fur of birds and seals, but is still toxic and can poison fish and other wildlife.

Potentially devastating ecological impact

And there is a lot of it around the East Yorkshire coast. It’s home to protected areas, major colonies of seabirds like puffins and gannets, and porpoises – as well as grey seals, which are currently rearing newborn pups.

Conservation charities are watching and bracing for what still could be nasty.

Martin Slater, from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, said if pollution enters the Humber estuary it could be “devastating” for the wildlife, including “important fish stocks, and tens of thousands of overwintering and migrating birds” who use the mud flats.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said the crash was close to the biggest gannet colony in England and warned a leak could be “lethal” to seabirds.

But a spokesperson for Whitby Wildlife Sanctuary said: “Hopefully, the effect on wildlife will be minimal, but there is an emergency contingency plan in place if lots of oiled birds wash up.”

Wildlife authorities have said they will not intervene until all the mariners are accounted for.

0/5 (0 Reviews)