North Sea crash oil tanker set to leave port

The supertanker hit by a cargo ship in the North Sea earlier this year is expected to leave port in Norfolk on Wednesday.

MV Stena Immaculate was carrying aviation fuel for the United States military when it was struck by the Portuguese-flagged ship Solong off the Humber Estuary in March.

Stena Immaculate was taken to Great Yarmouth's outer harbour a month later for assessment by loss adjusters.

Port timetables reveal the ship will be tugged further out to sea, but no details have been released about its onward journey.

Large fires damaged both vessels after the crash.

The master of Solong, Vladimir Motin, has denied manslaughter after one person died as a result of the crash.

Port director Richard Goffin said: "The Port of Great Yarmouth welcomed the MV Stena Immaculate earlier this year, in partnership with the Department for Transport, the Maritime Coastguard Agency and the vessel's owners.

"In our role as statutory harbour authority and as an open port, we have a responsibility to provide safe havens for vessels. Duties of this matter are a routine operation for ports, and at all times we strictly adhere to UK safety regulations and international maritime standards."

The collision raised concerns over an environmental hazard to the North Sea and the Norfolk and Lincolnshire coast.

Plastic nurdles – granules used in manufacturing processes – were released into the sea following the crash and washed up on beaches.

While in Great Yarmouth, food from Stena Immaculate's galley was donated to a local food bank.

The Reverend Matthew Price, from St Mary Magdalene Church, told the BBC in May: "This has to rank up there with one of the craziest donations.

"It's not often someone rings you up to say they have a cubic metre of meat."

Port timetables say the ship will be tugged to Cockle Buoy, which is 1.5 miles (about 2.5km) off the coast of Winterton-on-Sea.

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