Cargo ship captain arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over collision with U.S.-flagged tanker

British police on Tuesday arrested the captain of a cargo ship on suspicion of manslaughter as they searched for answers about why it hit a tanker transporting jet fuel for the U.S. military off eastern England a day earlier, setting both vessels ablaze. One sailor was presumed dead in the collision.

Humberside Police said the 59-year-old was detained "on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision." He wasn't named by the police and has not been charged.

Shipping company Ernst Russ, the owner of the Portugal-flagged container carrier the Solong, said the arrested man was the ship's master. It said he "and our entire team are actively assisting with the investigations."