Cargo ship captain arrested over collision with tanker

Authorities in England on Tuesday arrested the captain of the Solong cargo ship on suspicion of gross negligence and manslaughter. One missing crew member from the ship is presumed dead after officials called off a search Monday. The arrested captain is a Russian national, a spokesperson for the ship's owner Ernst Russ told media outlets. The Solong crew was made up of Russian and Filipino nationals.

How did we get here? The ship struck the anchored MV Stena Immaculate off the coast of England Monday and both ships caught fire. The British coast guard evacuated 36 of the 37 crew members from both vessels. Authorities extinguished the fire aboard the tanker while the cargo ship continued to burn Wednesday.

What caused the crash? Officials have not determined what led the Solong to strike the Stena Immaculate, though they do not suspect foul play. A local port official told CNN that the ship’s sophisticated technology should have helped prevent the accident. Ernst Russ said it is cooperating in the investigation.

What about the pollution concerns? The Stena Immaculate was carrying jet fuel for the U.S. military, according to an earlier statement from the ship’s manager, Crowley. A plan to counter pollution from the collision is in place and salvage plans are also being developed, according to the U.K. Coast Guard.

Dig deeper: Read my initial report about the crash.