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Damaged North Sea oil tanker draws in shipwatchers

Andrew Turner
BBC News, Norfolk
Reporting fromGreat Yarmouth
PA Media The fire-damaged Stena Immaculate, alongside the North Terminal of Great Yarmouth's outer harbour. Four tug boats are pushing the vessel against the quayside; three of them on the starboard side, the fourth at the bow. The vessel has red painted deck sections and a white tower stack, and a white roof of the bridge. There are burn marks and rusting on the hull. On the quayside are several InterCity 125 locomotive units and Mk3 railway carriages.PA Media
Stena Immaculate arrived at Great Yarmouth's outer harbour on Friday

The fire-damaged oil tanker that was hit by a cargo ship in the North Sea in March is attracting ship spotters and photographers during its stay in Great Yarmouth.

Stena Immaculate was at anchor off Bridlington when it was hit by container ship Solong.

The massive resulting fire caused significant damage to both vessels.

Steve Fox, 68, from Lowestoft, who went to see the tanker, said: "We all want to see the gritty bit. It's history, isn't it? It's news."

Andrew Turner/BBC A man with medium-length light grey hair. He is clean shaven and smiling. He is wearing a blue fleece, and a blue rugby shirt underneath, leaning against a wooden post and a rail fence. Beyond that is a steel wire fence, with steel sheeting and beams stored in a port compound. Beyond that is Stena Immaculate.Andrew Turner/BBC
Steve Fox said he was hoping to record part of the history of the shipping accident

On Monday, the Russian captain of the Solong, Vladimir Motin, appeared in court, charged with gross negligence manslaughter following the death of one crew member. No plea has yet been entered.

Solong was taken to Aberdeen for inspection while Stena Immaculate arrived in Great Yarmouth last week.

Andrew Turner/BBC A young woman with long hair, dark with highlights. She is wearing large-framed tortoiseshell glasses and is holding her camera and lens with both hands, with the camera strap around her neck and a rucksack on her back. She is standing near a wooden post and a rail fence, with some wire fencing behind that, securing off the portside where steel beams and sheeting is stored. Beyond it in the distance is the Stena Immaculate oil tanker.Andrew Turner/BBC
Molly Lewis was taking pictures of Stena Immaculate on her new camera

Molly Lewis, 21, from Great Yarmouth, was another one taking pictures.

"It's definitely interesting to see and it's something we don't have very often, so it's out of the ordinary," she said.

Andrew Turner/BBC A man sitting in his car. He is wearing a pink jacket with a black T-shirt underneath. He has close cropped dark hair and a stubbly growth of greying hair on his face. There is a yellow toy-themed seatbelt cushion on the right of the picture. Andrew Turner/BBC
Paul Radford said he thought Great Yarmouth was becoming a dumping ground for the maritime industry

Paul Radford, 57, from Brundall, said he had pulled up with his mother to enjoy an ice cream, and had not made the trip specifically to see the ship.

"They treat Yarmouth like a dumping ground," he said.

"I've got no argument if they bring it here and local people are working on it, but if they're not I can't see the point."

A spokesperson for Crowley, Stena Immaculate's shipping agent, said: "The vessel will be at lay berth for inspections until a final destination is determined.

"We don't have any detail at present as to where that will be or the specific timeline.

"Crowley's focus is on ensuring the ongoing inspection process it is conducted thoroughly and with safety in mind."

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