Captain Of Ship That Hit Tanker Causing Multiple Explosions Appears In UK Court

The captain of the cargo ship Solong has appeared in a UK court on charges of gross negligence manslaughter after the vessel collided with a US-flagged tanker in the North Sea.

The Portuguese-flagged Solong crashed into the Stena Immaculate, which was anchored off England’s northeast coast, on 10 March 2025, while carrying jet fuel for the US military.

This caused a massive explosion and a fire onboard both vessels, after which the British authorities initiated a major rescue operation. The captain of the Solang, Vladimir Motin, aged 59, has been identified as a Russian national from St. Petersburg.

He appeared at Hull Magistrates’ Court on Saturday and is accused of gross negligence manslaughter over the disappearance and presumed death of Mark Angelo Pernia, aged 38, a Filipino crew member aboard the Solong.

Prosecutors told the court that the Stena Immaculate had been anchored for more than 15 hours before the collision. They stated that the Solong had been heading directly toward the stationary tanker for over 40 minutes but made no attempts to change course or speed.

There were also no communication attempts from the Solong to warn of the impending crash. Motin did not enter a plea and was remanded into custody. His next hearing is scheduled at the Old Bailey on April 14.

Video Credits: The Mirror/YouTube

The Solong was travelling at over 15 knots (27.8 km/h) when it struck the anchored Stena Immaculate, which was loaded with 220,000 barrels of jet fuel for the US Department of Defense.

The tanker is part of a fleet of 10 vessels operated under the US military’s Tanker Security Program to ensure fuel transport during crises.

After the collision, all 23 crew members aboard the Stena Immaculate were rescued. Meanwhile, only 13 crew members out of all 14 from the Solong were brought to safety.

British authorities called off the search after efforts made to locate Mark Angelo Pernia were unsuccessful. The jet fuel cargo burned off in the fire, preventing a major spill.

The Stena Immaculate did not show any visible fire damage in the days after the collision, but small fires continued to burn on the Solong until Friday.

Environmental organisation Greenpeace raised concerns about the crash, stating that an environmental disaster had been narrowly avoided.

The vessel Solong failed steering-related safety checks in Ireland in July and was found to have additional deficiencies in an inspection in Scotland in October.

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch, along with US and Portuguese authorities, is investigating the exact cause of the collision. Meanwhile, the Stena Immaculate remains anchored off the English coast, while the Solong is being held offshore by a tugboat.

References: AP News, CNN

Source: Maritime Shipping News