Solong cargo ship arrives in Aberdeen after North Sea collision

The Portuguese container ship Solong has arrived in Aberdeen after a collision with the US oil tanker Stena Immaculate in the North Sea on March 10, which resulted in an explosion and extensive damage. The Solong's captain, Vladimir Motin, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter, and one crew member, Mark Angelo Pernia, is missing and presumed dead. Rescuers successfully saved 36 crew members from both vessels, while the Solong was accompanied by a vessel equipped for counter-pollution measures as it approached the port. The collision also led to the release of plastic pellets, known as nurdles, which have begun washing up on beaches, prompting clean-up efforts. The ship's owners, Ernst Russ AG, expressed gratitude for the rescue teams' response, and the Solong will undergo a full assessment by marine specialists and insurers. Meanwhile, the Stena Immaculate remains stable as salvage operations continue.