newsMysterious North Sea oil tanker collision – Yet another threat to Europe’s endangered wildlife
Bempton Cliffs in East Yorkshire, close to where the disastrous oil tankers collided on Monday 10 March 2025 (picture: Trevor Grundy)
Environment experts say that an oil tanker and container ship collision in the North Sea on Monday March 10 (2025) could threaten one of Europe’s most important seabird breeding colonies
By Trevor Grundy and wildlife reporters and agencies in Yorkshire
The North Sea collision between an oil tanker and a container ship on Monday morning (GMT) has sparked deep concern among British and European environmentalists for the future of local bird populations, maritime and wildlife.
Some of this country’s most important breeding sites for birds are threatened.
Flamborough and Bempton Cliffs in East Yorkshire form one of Europe’s most important breeding seabird colonies, including being part of the largest mainland breeding puffin colony in the UK.
At Bempton, there are enormous chalk cliffs that drop vertically as much as 330 feet from the surrounding farmland into the crashing surf at the edge of the North Sea where, once again, disaster has struck.
The cliffs are watched-over by mainly volunteers working for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and throughout the summer months they are home to many thousands of puffins, kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills.
The sea off Flamborough is designated as a Marine Protected Area. Both reserves provide important feeding and resting places during spring and autumn bird migrations.
Martin Slater, Director of Operations at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) told reporters after Monday morning’s disastrous collision in the North Sea – “Our thoughts are with everyone immediately involved in the accident and the emergency response operation. This is obviously a very worrying incident and we’re following developments closely, including waiting to see if there is any pollution into the North Sea.
“East Yorkshire’s coast is home to protected and significant colonies of seabirds including puffins, razorbills, gannets and kittiwakes. 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. Also, there are significant numbers of Atlantic grey seals in the area, many rearing this year’s young, as well as porpoises and other cetaceans around Spurn.
“If pollution spillage enters the Humber, this could potentially be devasting for the wildlife of the estuary, including important fish populations and tens of thousands of overwintering and migrating birds who use the mud flats.”
Shipping experts and working round the clock to give a reason for the disastrous collision.
Puffins with sea eels – these magnificent birds are already under threat
A British Government spokesperson today dismissed the idea that it could have been the result of some form of foul play.
But oil leaking into the sea poses a terrible threat to birds as well as fish.
Hugo Tagholm, Executive Director of Oceana UK, commented – “Oil is always an accident waiting to happen in our ocean and we are all familiar with its devastating impacts – seabirds slick with oil, marine life struggling in tarry tidelines, and a toxic legacy that can impact wildlife and coastal communities for years. More oil will always result in more spills.”
Jet fuel carried by the Stena Immaculate tanker was released when it was hit by the Solong with multiple explosions on board the Stena and flames surrounding the crash site.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust care for large stretches of the coast bordering the North Sea in the area where the accident happened.
Wildlife Trusts are deeply concerned about the potential impact that resulting pollution could have on internationally important seabird colonies, grey seals and the wealth of other marine life such as harbour porpoise, fish and minke whale that live beneath the waves.
Wilder Humber is a significant marine restoration programme in the Humber – Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust are planting seagrass and restoring oysters to improve the habitat and ecosystem of this important estuary.
The Humber Estuary has the highest level of international and domestic protection as a Special Protection Area, Special Area of Conservation and Site of Special Scientific Interest. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s renowned Spurn National Nature Reserve and Flamborough Cliffs nature reserve are nearby.
Spurn Point sits within the Humber Estuary and is an internationally-important stop-off for migratory birds.
Donna Nook National Nature Reserve is cared for by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and is famous for its large colony of grey seals. The pupping season has just finished at the reserve and pups are hauled out on the sandbanks off-shore – 1,649 were born there this season. The reserve is also known for its array of bird life with over 250 species recorded there including snow bunting, redshank and lapwing.
Magazines like these keep concerned people informed about what is happening to the world’s endangered birds, fishes, land animals and environment
Tammy Smalley, Head of Conservation, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, said:
“The north Lincolnshire coast is at risk which includes our special – and vast – nature reserves, Donna Nook and Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes. The area is home to internationally important populations of seabirds and seals, and fragile habitats including saltmarsh, mudflats and seagrass meadows.
“Depending on wind direction and contaminants, we are also concerned about the Silver Pit Marine Conservation Zone farther offshore – a unique habitat for fish where seabirds and cetaceans feed. Much of the Lincolnshire coast offshore is within marine protected areas for habitat features such as sub-tidal sand dunes.
“Although the grey seals at Donna Nook are not currently pupping, the seals including juveniles are still in the area. They haul out on sand banks offshore and feed in the wider North Sea area.”
It is not clear yet exactly what the two ships were carrying and to what extend dangerous chemicals have entered the North Sea after the collision.
Volunteer guides at Bempton Cliffs play a vital role by helping to educate the public about the need to act now to preserve Britain’s threatened environment that could see the red-carding of some of the world’s most important bird-nesting sites (Picture: Trevor Grundy)
A report in The Guardian (11.3.2025) said that various wildlife experts have warned that the consequences for birds, fish and land animals could be devastating.
It said: “Just west of the collision site is the Humber estuary and the Wash, one of the UK’s most important ecosystems which is home to hundreds of thousands of seabirds,” said Sandy Luk, the chief executive of the Marine Conservation Society.
“Thousands of seals and their pups call this stretch of coast home at this time of year, and there are protected areas nearby for harbour porpoises and special marine habitats.”
She added – “Our biggest concern to the environment right now is the degree to which these chemicals accumulate or disperse, both into the water column and the distance they travel. This all depends on the weather, the currents and the extent of the spill.”
Dr Paul Johnston, a senior scientist at the Greenpeace Research Laboratories at Exeter University, said: “The jet fuel that entered the water close to a breeding ground for harbour porpoises is toxic to fish and other sea creatures.”
Kittiwakes spent most of their lives over the Atlantic but they bird-nest along cliffs and are the glorious inhabitants of thousands of nesting colonies in England.
British police have charged the Russian captain of a cargo ship that crashed into a United States fuel tanker in the North Sea this week with manslaughter and gross negligence over the death of a crew member.
Vladimir Motin, 59, from Primorsky in Saint Petersburg, Russia, did not apply for bail when he appeared at Hull Magistrates Court on Saturday and was remanded in police custody.