Russian Ship Captain Pleads Not Guilty over Fatal North Sea collision
It resulted in the death of a crew member.
Last updated 30th May 2025
Vladimir Motin, 59, the Russian captain of a container ship that crashed into a US oil tanker in the North Sea, has pleaded not guilty at the Old Bailey to the manslaughter of a crew member.
Vladimir Motin, 59, of Primorsky, St Petersburg, is charged with manslaughter by gross negligence in connection with the death of Mark Angelo Pernia, 38. Motin was the master of the Solong, a Portuguese-registered container ship, which collided with the US-flagged oil tanker Stena Immaculate on 10 March.
The incident occurred at around 9.47am, approximately 10.2 nautical miles off the coast of Yorkshire. Mr Pernia, who was working on the forward deck of the Solong near the area of an explosion, was not located following the collision. All other crew—13 from the Solong and 23 from the Stena Immaculate—were rescued.
The Stena Immaculate, 183 metres long and carrying jet fuel, had been anchored at the location for around 15 hours before the collision. The Solong, 140 metres in length and transporting approximately 157 containers, was travelling at a speed of about 15 knots when it struck the port side of the tanker.
Motin has appeared at the Old Bailey for a plea and trial preparation hearing. A previous hearing on 14 April was adjourned due to the absence of a Russian interpreter.