A leading maritime charity based in Southampton has issued a statement after an oil tanker and cargo ship collided this morning.
The RNLI sent four crews to the scene as both ships set on fire around 13 miles from the East Yorkshire coast.
A five-mile air and sea exclusion zone is in place around the location of the incident, Sky News says.
Responding to the incident, Stuart Rivers, CEO of the Southampton-based Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB) said the charity was "devastated" to hear the news.
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Mr Rivers said: “My heart goes out to all of the seafarers affected. Our brave seafarers risk their lives every day to keep global trade moving, and in moments like this, we are reminded of the dangers they face at sea.
“As reports continue to unfold, we are praying that all crew involved are unharmed.”
As the umbrella charity for the UK Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets, MNWB supports 47 member charities across the maritime sector.
The charity has 15 Port Welfare Committees and a National Seafarers’ Welfare Board in Gibraltar which act as an information, communication and networking channel between local members and the Board.
