What is sodium cyanide as experts call North Sea spill 'very bad news'

Scientists have explained sodium cyanide and its uses after ships collided in the North Sea collision

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Jet fuel has been spilling into waters following a collision between an oil tanker and a cargo vessel in the North Sea.

The US-flagged Stena Immaculate tanker, carrying "volatile" jet fuel, and a Portuguese-flagged Solong container collided about 10 miles east off the coast of Hull on Monday morning (March 10).

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More than 30 casualties have been brought ashore and the search for a missing crew member from the cargo ship was called off on Monday night. HM Coastguard said efforts to find the person from the Solong ship had ended after “an extensive search”.

Experts have warned that the jet fuel could have devastating consequences for marine wildlife and coastlines, but clean-up efforts could be complicated after reports suggest the Solong was carrying a highly toxic chemical called sodium cyanide. It remains unclear whether there has been any leak of the chemical.

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"Sodium Cyanide is used widely in metal processing and, whilst quite corrosive and toxic, it only becomes a serious problem when wet and if it reaches high temperatures (170 C)," explains," Dr Simon Boxall, Oceanographer in the School of Ocean and Earth Science at the University of Southampton, told the Manchester Evening News

"So 15 container loads of [sodium cyanide] potentially emptying into the sea during a substantial fire is very bad news."

It produces Hydrogen Cyanide gas and Ammonia, according to Dr Boxall, which are fatal to marine life and can be toxic to humans.

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"The combination of toxic chemicals, toxic jet fuel and the risk of ongoing fires and explosions have meant any investigation is currently hampered," he adds.

According to maritime firm Crowley, which manages the Stena Immaculate, the tanker was struck by the Solong, which resulted in jet fuel spilling into the sea due to a "ruptured cargo tank".

"The jet fuel is also an issue. There is an assumption that crude oil spills are the worst kind but in reality they are the least damaging – on a scale of bad to terrible," explains Dr Boxall, who says that natural products like crude oil are broken down quickly by microbes in the sea, whereas refined fuels have "more harmful compounds" and aren't broken down as quickly.

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"Additives in the fuel, especially Jet fuel, are also toxic to marine life. It will result in a significant impact in an area of the North Sea which houses important fishing grounds," Dr Boxall adds.

Hugo Tagholm, executive director of Oceana UK, said: “This incident is a shocking reminder of the ferocious polluting power of oil. We are seeing burning slicks, the threat of heavy fuel oil, and toxic chemicals leaking in or near not one but two marine protected areas (MPAs). Places that should be safe havens for wildlife.”

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Local wildlife trusts have warned of potential “devastating” impacts of pollution from the tankers on species in the area, including threatened seabird colonies, grey seals, harbour porpoises, fish, and minke whales.

Martin Slater, Director of Operations at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, said the trust was waiting to see if there was any pollution into the North Sea, adding that East Yorkshire’s coast was home to significant colonies of puffins, razorbills, gannets and kittiwakes, which were gathering offshore ahead of the nesting season.

“We’re very worried indeed about the threat to these birds,” says Slater.

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Wildlife forced to swim in polluted waters come into direct contact with toxic chemicals and oil, either through the skin, when feeding, or by inhaling vapours, says Oceana UK. The charity also warns that contamination from oil and gas has shown to cause lung disease in dolphins, as well as cancers in seabirds and deformation and breeding disruption in fish.

Daniela Schmidt, professor of earth sciences at the University of Bristol, said: “There are several Marine protected areas near Hull such as Flamborough Head and Holderness. These areas are protected due to their rich habitats supporting marine wildlife including fish, bivalves, crabs and birds. Around Flamborough the nesting season will soon start.

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“While the first focus is on containing the fire, the pollution connected to the accident has the potential to spread widely depending on the currents and waves with the risk of impacting these protected areas."

Sea and weather conditions will have a huge influence on the damage caused by the spill. "Winds yesterday were bringing the contamination towards the coast but the wind is veering to the North West, which should keep smoke clouds and surface oil away from the coastline for the time being, but that could change," Dr Boxall explained.

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