Ship Captain Guilty After Deadly North Sea Crash
A ship captain has been found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter after a tragic collision in the North Sea claimed a crew member’s life.
Fatal North Sea Smash Off East Yorkshire
On 10 March 2025, a tanker and a container ship collided just 10 miles off the coast of East Yorkshire. At 11am, HM Coastguard alerted Humberside Police about the crash and a missing crew member. A huge rescue mission was launched immediately.
All 23 crew on the tanker Stena Immaculate were saved. From the container vessel Solong, 13 out of 14 crew were rescued and taken to Grimsby Docks.
One Crew Member Tragically Lost
Sadly, Able Seaman Mark Pernia from the Solong was never found. After exhaustive searches, he was presumed dead due to harsh sea conditions and the time passed since the incident.
Captain Vladimir Motin Convicted at Old Bailey
Following a three-week trial at London’s Old Bailey, 59-year-old Russian captain Vladimir Motin was found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter. Motin was in charge of the Solong during the deadly crash.
Humberside Police led the investigation with help from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. They scrutinised technical data, radio transmissions, and witness testimonies from both ships to uncover how the fatal collision happened.
