Russian Captain Denies Manslaughter In Tragic North Sea Ship Collision

The captain of a container ship that crashed into a US flagged oil tanker in the North Sea earlier this year has pleaded not guilty to a charge of gross negligence manslaughter after one of his crew member went missing and is presumed dead.

Vladimir Motin, aged 59, from St. Petersburg, Russia, was in charge of the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong when it hit the US flagged tanker Stena Immaculate on March 10, 2025.

The collision happened about 14 nautical miles northeast of Spurn Head, off the East Yorkshire coast, in a busy shipping lane.

The crash caused a serious fire after the Solong struck the port side of the anchored tanker, rupturing one of its cargo tanks filled with aviation fuel. The fuel spilled and caught fire, spreading to containers on the Solong. The fire lasted for several days.

Video Credits: Guardian News/YouTube

At the time of the collision, the Solong was sailing at a speed of around 15 to 16 knots. Visibility in the area was patchy, ranging between 0.25 to 2.0 nautical miles. According to an interim report by the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), neither vessel had a dedicated bridge lookout during the incident.

The Stena Immaculate, which was anchored as instructed by local port authorities, was carrying over 220,000 barrels of aviation fuel. The tanker is operated by Crowley, a U.S. shipping company, and was under charter by the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command. Crowley has stated that the vessel was operating according to safety regulations for anchored ships.

In total 36 people were rescued, including 23 from the Stena Immaculate and 13 from the Solong. However, Mark Angelo Pernia, a 38-year-old Filipino able seaman, was reported missing. He was last seen working in the forecastle area of the Solong at the time of the explosion. Authorities have since presumed him dead.

Video Credits: The Sun/YouTube

Motin was charged on March 14, four days after the crash, with gross negligence manslaughter in connection with Pernia’s death. He appeared via videolink from prison at London’s Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) on Friday, May 23, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge. A Russian interpreter assisted him during the hearing. He confirmed his identity before entering his plea.

The court remanded him in custody at HMP Hull. A case management hearing is scheduled for September 10, 2025, and the trial is set to begin on January 12, 2026.

Authorities from the UK, the United States, and Portugal are jointly investigating the incident. Officials have stated that there is no evidence linking the collision to national security concerns.

Video Credits: Guardian News/YouTube

Plastic pellets known as nurdles, which were inside ruptured containers on the Solong, spilled into the sea and later washed up along England’s east coast. Though not toxic, conservationists have warned that nurdles can harm wildlife if swallowed.

The Solong had been sailing south from the Scottish port of Grangemouth to Rotterdam, Netherlands when the crash occurred. The Stena Immaculate had been anchored at the same location for about 15 hours before the collision.

The Solong measures around 140 meters in length and was carrying approximately 157 containers. The Stena Immaculate is about 183 meters long and was fully loaded with jet fuel.

The investigation continues as the court prepares for trial early next year.

References: BBC, AP News

Source: Maritime Shipping News