Police have been given more time to question the captain of a cargo vessel arrested after a disastrous collision in the North Sea on Monday.
The captain of the MV Solong remains in police custody following his arrest on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.
The 59-year-old was detained after the Solong, a Portuguese-flagged cargo vessel, struck the Stena Immaculate, a US-registered oil tanker, sparking a major emergency response. Thirteen of the Solong’s 14 crew members were rescued, but one remains missing and is presumed dead.
Humberside Police, which is leading the criminal investigation, confirmed that they had been granted an extension to keep the man in custody for a further 36 hours.
Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson said: “An extension has been granted by the magistrates’ court to detain the man in custody for a further 36 hours.
“Detectives are continuing to question him following his arrest on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision.
“Extensive lines of inquiry by police into any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision between the two vessels are ongoing, while partner agencies continue their own assessments of the incident.
“Family liaison officers are supporting the family of the crew member who is missing, believed deceased, and our thoughts remain with them.”
The fire on board the Solong now appears to be extinguished – three days after the crash, while the coastguard said aerial surveillance flights had not identified any pollution on the surface of the water.
Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart earlier said officials had found no evidence so far of heavy engine oil leaking into the water or air, but the situation was being closely monitored.