How bad could the tanker collision be for the environment?
What might be onboard?
Maritime operations company, Crowley, which was managing the oil tanker the MV Stena Immaculate, has confirmed that it was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 containers at the time of the incident.It was not clear on the status of all the containers but Crowley said one had "ruptured" and was leaking fuel into the sea. The contents of the cargo ship, the Solong, which crashed into the tanker have been less clear.Lloyds List, a shipping data company, said on Monday that it was carrying sodium cyanide. But on Tuesday Ernst Russ, owners of the cargo ship said: "We are able to confirm that there are no containers on board ladened with sodium cyanide."There are four empty containers that have previously contained the hazardous chemical and these containers will continue to be monitored."It remains unclear if the ship was carrying other contents at the time of the crash.
What are the dangers of jet fuel and sodium cyanide?
Jet fuel is a toxic substance that can be lethal to marine organisms and other animals like seabirds if ingested.The level of toxicity is dependent on the crude oil that it has been refined from.Sodium cyanide, which is used in industry including for metal cleaning, is a also a toxic substance and poisonous for living organisms as it disrupts cell function and leads to oxygen starvation. Sodium cyanide is also highly soluble in water and it can react vigorously to produce the gas hydrogen cyanide - which is also toxic. The confirmation that it was only empty containers on board will allay some concerns about environmental damage and make the clean-up operation easier.The third consideration for authorities will be whether the fuel used to run both ships - the bunker fuel - has also leaked out.Marine fuel is a lot heavier than jet fuel and can remain in the environment for longer.Alex Lukyanov at the University of Reading, UK, said. "Marine diesel can smother habitats and wildlife, affecting their ability to regulate body temperature, potentially resulting in death.""The environmental toll could be severe," he said.
What mitigation can be taken?
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is overseeing the operation to respond to the incident and clean up any pollution. Melanie Onn, the MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is currently doing an evaluation of the contamination risk and working with the owners of both of the vessels to plan a salvage operation.Prof Alastair Hay, emeritus professor of environmental toxicology at the University of Leeds said: "The priority, I imagine, for the crews trying to contain the damage, will be to extinguish the fires and keep vessels afloat. This will reduce the quantity of chemicals entering the water and the risk for wildlife downstream."The fire that broke out following the crash will have helped to burn off some of the jet fuel but also could be preventing the counter-pollution effort beginning immediately. Frode Vikebø, research manager at the Institute of Marine Research said that the UK government will be modelling the spread of any contaminants at sea, considering ocean circulation and weather conditions, as part of "standard procedure".In terms of mitigation he said there are different options available: "A skirt can be used to limit the horizontal spread and also the use of dispersal, which are chemicals that reduce the size of any droplets and also make the pollutants go down into the water column and prevent them remaining at the sea surface."What we've learned about cleaning up major oil spills
What wildlife may be affected?
The collision happened within an environmentally rich area - both for marine species but also onshore populations of birds who feed on fish and other aquatic organisms.The Humber Estuary is a site of special scientific interest and along with Bempton Cliffs Nature Reserve supports more than half a million birds annually including pink footed geese, puffins, avocets and bar-tailed godwits. Within the wider marine environment at this time of year there are breeding seals and harbour porpoises. Martin Slater, Director of Operations at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust said the time of the year that this spill has occurred is particularly worrying."Many birds are gathering offshore on the sea ahead of the nesting season and we still have wintering waders – plus migrant birds stopping here – so we're very worried indeed about the threat to these birds," he said. There is also concern for wildlife further south of the incident to which the jet fuel may spread depending on the wind and sea conditions. The area off Lincolnshire's coast is "a unique habitat for fish where seabirds and cetaceans feed" explained Mr Slater.Ecology experts have pointed out that animals do have reactionary mechanisms that mean the noise and smell of the crash will have alerted them to dangers and they could have already vacated the area.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The olives in your kitchen cupboard are FAKE: Expert reveals the unsettling truth about black olives sold in UK supermarkets
Sometimes nothing satisfies a salt craving quite like some olives. But next time you reach for a can at the shops, you might want to look a bit closer at the ingredients list. Sophia Smith Galer, a British TikTok influencer and writer, warns that black olives are not quite what they seem. In her viral video, she explains that black olives are packed with additives to remove their bitterness and change their colour. It means olives marketed as black might not be naturally black at all. 'You're probably buying fake black olives from the supermarket,' she said in the clip, which has more than 119,000 views and 6,000 likes. Typically, in a cheap can of supermarket black olives, all the individual olives 'taste and look very similar', she explains. But that's because they're 'all turned the exact same black colour' with 'one particular ingredient'. It's a little-known fact that green olives are the ones that have been picked before they're fully ripe, whereas black olives have been left to ripen fully. Whether green or black, supermarket olives are often soaked in sodium hydroxide, which softens them and removes their bitterness. Professor Gunter Kuhnle, food scientist at the University of Reading, said sodium hydroxide is 'quite commonly used in food processing'. 'It's used for the processing of many grains such as maize, peeling of foods, but it's not that often on the label,' he told MailOnline. Lactic acid is also added to olives in brine, as it lowers their pH, acting as a natural preservative against the growth of unwanted pathogens. But there's another additive that you'll commonly find on the ingredients list of black olives – ferrous gluconate. Ferrous gluconate, an iron compound used in the olive industry, imparts a uniform jet black colour to the little round fruits. It means that black olives are often actually green ones that have had the black compound added to make them darker, the TikToker explains. 'Its job is to bind to compounds in the olives to oxidise them and turn them all into this uniform black colour,' explained Smith Galer, who is also a former fellow with Brown University's Information Futures Lab. 'Just because they're called black olives, doesn't mean they were naturally black – they weren't, they were green.' Ferrous gluconate (E579) is approved as a food additive by the Food Standards Agency in the UK and the Food and Drug Administration in the US. It is also used as a supplement to combat iron deficiency, but side effects can include nausea, vomiting and stomach pain. 'Proper' black olives without the additive will often be a little bit softer than green ones simply because they were left to ripen before being picked and processed. Although the influencer shows us a can of Waitrose black olives, other British big grocery giants sell black olives containing the additive too. MailOnline found Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco are selling their own brand of black olives containing the 'stabiliser' ferrous gluconate. MailOnline has contacted all four of the supermarkets for comment. MailOnline found ferrous gluconate in supermarket-brand black olives sold by Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose and Asda Not all black olives from these supermarkets will contain ferrous gluconate, however. Many black olives of a good enough quality will have been properly left to ripen before picking, packing and shipping. Naturally black olives (those left to ripen) tend to be sweeter and slightly softer, with less bitterness compared to green olives. For example, at the end of the video clip, Smith Galer eats Beldi olives from Morocco, a naturally-wrinkly variety served cured in salt. 'You can if you want buy real black olives in the supermarket,' she adds. 'Those are the real things.' Herby fraud: One in four samples of sage contain the leaves of other plants, study finds Sage is known as one of the most versatile herbs in the kitchen, adding a punch of flavour to sauces, meats and puddings. But when you purchase a jar of sage at the supermarket, you might not be getting your money's worth. More than a quarter of samples of the popular herb contain leaves from other plants, according to a 2020 analysis. Lab tests have shown that just over 25 per cent of analysed sage samples were heavily adulterated with leaves from other trees. One of the 'sage' samples was made up of just 42 per cent sage and an astonishing 58 per cent other leaves, some unknown.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Tragic ‘dear mom' note sent by Camp Mystic victim, 8, revealed following Texas floods – after family's double tragedy
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MOM who lost her daughter in the floods that swept through Texas' Camp Mystic has shared details of a letter she wrote before her death. Notes that children had written to their parents while at the summer camp had started arriving - days after the July 4 floods. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Blakely McCrory with her mom Lindsey Credit: Facebook 6 Blakely was one of 27 children and camp counselors killed in the recent Texas floods Credit: Facebook Blakely McCrory, eight, was among 27 campers and staffers that perished in the Texas floods. She died days after arriving at Camp Mystic, and months after she lost her dad. Devastated mom, Lindsey McCrory, shared details of the note Blakely had written to her family, per People. Blakely had filled in the blanks to sentences on a piece of paper. read more on news GET OUT Fears of MORE Texas floods as volunteers cleaning up after deadly torrents evacuate The letter started with the phrase: "Dear mom." In the note, Blakely revealed she was feeling 'good' and described Camp Mystic as amazing. She told her mom that she would be playing tennis as well as horseback riding. She revealed that she was in the 'tonk' group. Blakely rated the sleep and food at the camp as the best. Children were given the option to score food and how they slept from best to worst. Lindsey revealed that she took comfort in receiving the letter as it conveyed her daughter was enjoying herself at Camp Mystic. College football coach's 8-year-old daughter confirmed dead in horrifying Texas floods – 'asking for all prayers' She described Blakely as 'very resilient.' 'She was a live wire, just had a fun, spirited attitude, the type of child that doesn't stay down for long,' Lindsey told People. Lindsey told the Today program that she received two letters from Blakely. In the second note, Blakely begged her mom not to sell her Barbie house. 6 Search teams remove debris from the Guadalupe River Credit: AP 6 Mattresses and clothes are laid on the grass outside a Camp Mystic building Credit: AFP Lindsey recalled how her daughter appeared to change in her mind. That's because Blakely had initially allowed her mom to sell the dolls house. Blakely departed for Camp Mystic on June 29, but her family was rocked by tragedy months previously. Lindsey's husband and Blakely's dad, Blake, died in March after a battle with stage two cancer. And, Lindsey's brother also died. Camp Mystic had been a constant on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Texas for almost 100 years. And, 750 children were at the Christian campsite when the floods hit over the Independence Day weekend. The Guadalupe River rose around 26 feet in 45 minutes as it burst its banks. Around a foot of rain hit Kerr County in central Texas when caused the river to overflow. Janie Hunt, nine, was also killed in the floods. It was her first year at Camp Mystic. Her family identified her via a necklace that had been given to her by her grandma, Margaret. Stacy Stevens' daughter Mary, eight, was identified as one of the victims, as per the New York Post. FAMILIES GRIEF Tragic details emerged after it was reported that sisters Blair and Brooke Harber, 13 and 11, didn't survive the floods. The sisters were holding hands when their bodies were found. And, Ellen Getten, nine, had recently celebrated her birthday at Walt Disney World in Florida before heading to Camp Mystic. She was staying in the camp's Bubble Inn and her family said some of her happiest memories were the dancing parties put on by counselors, per an online obit. 'Ellen woke up happy, went to sleep happy, and made everyone around her happy,' her family said. 'Though her nine years on earth was brief, she will always be remembered for her love of others and her sweet smile. 'Ellen would want everyone to give more hugs.' Dick Eastland, the owner of Camp Mystic, was killed and he was credited for his heroism in trying to evacuate campers. He and his wife Tweety had been associated with the camp for more than 50 years. He received an order to evacuate campers at 1:14am but only started moving the girls to higher ground 45 minutes later, as reported by The New York Post. 'They had no information that indicated the magnitude of what was coming,' Jeff Carr, the Eastland's family spokesperson, said. Eastland's body was found in his Tahoe car that had been swept away. Officials confirmed that at least 134 people died from the flooding, with 100 still missing. But, another summer camp, Camp CAMP, which is located 30 miles downriver has since reopened. 6 A Camp Mystic mailbox that was swept away Credit: AP
Daily Record
14-06-2025
- Daily Record
Massive fire rips through Dubai Marina skyscraper as thousands flee homes
Emergency teams spent six hours battling the overnight blaze until Saturday morning, according to the Dubai Media Office. The chilling moment a huge blaze tears through a Dubai apartment block this morning was caught on camera. Thousands were forced to flee their homes as the flames took hold. Emergency teams spent six hours battling the overnight blaze until Saturday morning, according to the Dubai Media Office. All 3,820 residents from 764 apartments were safely evacuated, the Dubai Media Office said in its live updates on X. It was revealed this morning that the fire was contained and that "the smoke currently visible at the site is due to ongoing cooling operations as part of the firefighting process". "Control measures remain in place and the situation is fully managed by the firefighting teams," the media office added. One resident told Khaleej Times: "I was on the 24th floor with my wife when we smelled something burning around 9.45pm. 'We checked our apartment but found nothing. From the balcony, we saw firefighters and people outside. A friend called and said he couldn't enter because of the fire. Security only told us to leave when we called them.' He said the stairwell was filled with smoke, forcing them to take the lift, "which thankfully worked". The blaze broke out in the upper floors of the Tiger Tower – also known as Marina Pinnacle – at around 9.30pm, according to The National. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. After fleeing the burning tower, residents gathered in the streets as emergency teams tried to put out the fire, The National reported. They are reportedly being helped by authorities and the building's developer to secure temporary housing. As a result of the fire, there are travel disruptions between Dubai Marina Station and Palm Jumeirah Station. Dubai's transport authority wrote on social media. The post It comes as a huge fire broke out in March after a cargo ship collided with a US oil tanker in the North Sea. 36 crew members from both ships were taken safely to shore, but one sailor was reported missing. After extensive search efforts for the sailor, they were presumed dead. The container ship Solong was carrying the highly toxic chemical sodium cyanide. Footage captured the dramatic scene as both the oil tanker and the cargo ship were engulfed in flames, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
