
Yorkshire Coast MP's have questioned the Maritime Minister about the efforts to deal with any pollution from this week's tanker collision in the North Sea.
The incident involved a collision between vessels Solong and Stena Immaculate off the coast of East Yorkshire at just before 10am on Monday.
Stena Immaculate was carrying about 220,000 barrels of jet fuel. The other vessel, the Solong is a cargo ship, yesterday the owners of the cargo vessel said that the ship was not carrying sodium cyanide as had been originally feared. Both vessels will have been carrying significant quantities of fuel oil.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Scarborough and Whitby MP - Alison Hume - asked Minister Mike Kane MP about the potential impact of the collision on the local fishing industry.
Bridlington MP - Charlie Dewhirst - asked the Minister for information about any potential pollution.
Businesses, environmental groups, and politicians on the Yorkshire Coast have expressed their concerns about the potential for pollution damage to the local marine environment.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Joe Redfern, the manager of the Whitby Lobster Hatchery, said:
“We wish any with injuries a speedy recovery.
“As we have experienced pollution-related mass mortality incidents along this coast in the past, we will be watching how things progress with a keen eye.
“Our communities along the northeast coastline rely on healthy seas.
“As this disaster progresses, we hope huge efforts are made to reduce any damage to the environment as much as possible.”
Councillor Rich Maw, who represents Weaponness and Ramshill in Scarborough, said he had written to NYC’s corporate director for environment regarding the collision.
The independent councillor said:
“Local fishers are rightly concerned this incident has the potential to devastate a long-established traditional fishery along the Yorkshire coast, which could extend as far as here.
“NYC is currently engaged with the Humberside resilience forum and officers attended an emergency planning meeting yesterday with Humberside colleagues.”
Councillor Neil Swannick, who represents Whitby Streonshalh, said he was monitoring the situation and was hoping to receive updates from officers of the North East Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority of which he is a member.
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