Russian Cargo Ship Captain Stands Trial In UK Over Fatal North Sea Collision

A Russian cargo ship captain is on trial in the UK over a deadly collision in the North Sea that caused a major fire and led to the death of a crew member.

Vladimir Motin, 59, from St Petersburg, appeared at London’s Old Bailey on Monday charged with one count of gross negligence manslaughter.

The charge relates to a collision between the cargo ship Solong and the tanker Stena Immaculate in March last year. Motin has pleaded not guilty, and the trial is expected to last several weeks.

The Portuguese-flagged Solong, under Motin’s command, collided with the US-flagged Stena Immaculate early on 10 March 2025.

The tanker was carrying jet fuel and was anchored about 13 miles from the port of Hull, on England’s northeast coast. It had been chartered by the US military at the time.

The collision caused a large fire on both vessels which led to a major offshore rescue operation. One Solong crew member, Mark Angelo Pernia from the Philippines, was lost in the incident and is presumed dead.

Video Credits: Sky News/YouTube

The crash also raised concerns about environmental damage after a fuel tank on the tanker was ruptured. UK authorities later stated that there was no evidence of foul play.

A preliminary investigation by the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch found that neither vessel had a dedicated lookout on the bridge at the time of the collision. The report also added that visibility in the area was patchy.

The investigation said the Solong breached one of the tanker’s cargo tanks, releasing aviation fuel into the sea and onto the bow of the cargo ship. The fuel was ignited by the heat created by the force of the collision.

The tanker’s owner, Crowley, said the Stena Immaculate was operating in accordance with watchkeeping requirements for an anchored vessel.

Firefighting efforts continued for nearly two days before visible flames were fully put out. Both vessels were later moved to separate ports for salvage operations and damage checks.

While a major environmental disaster from the jet fuel spill was avoided, the incident led to pollution from cargo carried by the Solong.

The ship was transporting 15 containers of plastic pellets, known as nurdles, which were later found floating at sea and washed ashore. The UK coastguard carried out a clean-up operation after the pellets reached the coastline.

Local authorities in Lincolnshire reported that more than 16 tonnes of plastic pellets were removed from beaches in the northeast of the county. Although the pellets are non-toxic, they pose a risk to wildlife.

The Solong’s owner, German shipping company Ernst Russ, and Crowley have filed legal claims against each other.

Motin attended court on Monday for early legal proceedings and jury selection. The full trial is expected to continue in the coming days.

References: france24, euronews

Source: Maritime Shipping News