On Monday, the cargo ship collided with MV Stena Immaculate, a tanker transporting jet fuel for the US military in the North Sea off eastern England, setting both vessels ablaze. The collision sent jet fuel pouring into the sea and sparked fears of significant environmental damage.

A port official said he was told the North Sea collision produced "a massive fireball" and the cargo ship's owner said one crew member was missing.

U.S.-based maritime management firm Crowley, which operates the Stena Immaculate, said the tanker “sustained a ruptured cargo tank containing Jet-A1 fuel,” when the container ship struck it, triggering a fire and “multiple explosions onboard,” with fuel released into the sea. It said all 23 mariners on the tanker were safe and accounted for.