Police get further time to question crash captain

The captain of a cargo ship arrested after a collision in the North Sea is being held in custody for a further 24 hours "due to the complexities of the incident", police said.

The 59-year-old Russian man was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

The US-registered tanker Stena Immaculate, which was carrying 220,000 barrels of aviation fuel, and the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship Solong crashed off the East Yorkshire coast on Monday.

Humberside Police said detectives were given more time to question the man after magistrates had previously granted a 36-hour extension on Wednesday.

Both ships were engulfed in flames and 36 crew members were rescued.

A crew member of the Solong is missing and presumed dead.

In a statement, Humberside Police said: "Additional time has been imperative to the investigation due to the complexities of the incident with the vessels in the sea, the number of witnesses involved and establishing any scenes to collate and gather information and evidence.

"Extensive lines of enquiry are continuing, and further updates will be provided when we can."

The force said officers were continuing to support the family of the missing crew member, who was "believed to be deceased".

"Our thoughts are with the family at this incredibly difficult time."

The force is conducting its investigation in parallel with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, which is trying to establish the cause of the crash.

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