The Stena Immaculate, which Kane said was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel when it crashed, is part of a fleet of 10 tankers involved in a US government program to supply its military with fuel.

The Ernst Russ-operated Solong collided with the tanker Stena Immaculate on Monday morning off the north-east coast of England. One seafarer from the Solong is missing, presumed dead.

An increase in collisions at sea has been blamed on seafarers spending hours scrolling on their mobile phones and falling asleep when they should be keeping watch.

The tanker, Stena Immaculate, which can carry tens of thousands of tons of jet fuel, was at anchor on March 10 off Humberside when it was struck by the smaller Solong. Fires and explosions broke out.