The Russian captain of a container ship involved in a deadly collision with a US-flagged oil tanker in the North Sea has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and remanded in custody.
Vladimir Motin, 59, from Primorsky, St Petersburg, appeared at Hull Magistrates’ Court on Saturday (March 15) following the fatal incident on Monday, 10 March, in which Filipino crew member Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, lost his life.
Motin was the master of the Solong, a Portugal-registered cargo vessel, which allegedly rammed into the US-registered tanker Stena Immaculate off the coast of East Yorkshire, causing extensive damage and triggering fires on both ships.
According to Humberside Police, Motin was arrested hours after the collision and has now been formally charged following a joint investigation with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
One Dead, Dozens Rescued in Fireball After Collision
The impact left 36 crew members from both vessels scrambling to evacuate, with some suffering singed hair and narrowly escaping as a huge fireball engulfed the scene. One crew member, Mr Pernia, was initially reported missing but is now presumed dead after extensive searches by HM Coastguard.
Water was seen flooding through the hull of the Stena Immaculate, while the Solong drifted southwards along the coast, continuing to smoulder days after the collision. Coastguard teams said small fires continued to burn on the Solong’s upper decks, although the situation was said to be under control.
Court Hears of Organisational Failures
At the court hearing, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) alleged that Motin’s actions amounted to gross negligence, contributing to the deadly impact. Prosecutors also claimed that thousands of litres of jet fuel spilled into the sea following the collision, although environmental impact assessments suggest the public health risk remains low, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
Frank Ferguson, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said:
“We have authorised Humberside Police to charge a Russian national in relation to a collision involving two vessels in the North Sea off the east coast of England. Filipino national Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, died following the incident.”
Investigations Continue at Sea
The collision occurred 12 miles off the coast near Withernsea, where the Stena Immaculate remains anchored. The Solong was towed further south towards the Lincolnshire coast, where salvage teams boarded both vessels to assess the damage.
Chief Coastguard Paddy O’Callaghan said:
“There are now only small periodic pockets of fire on the Solong which are not causing undue concern. Specialist tugs with firefighting capability remain at both vessels’ locations.”
He confirmed aerial surveillance and pollution monitoring were ongoing.
Russian Embassy Monitoring the Case
The Russian Embassy in London issued a statement confirming that five Russian citizens were among the Solong’s crew, including Captain Motin. The embassy said all other crew members were uninjured and in good health, and that Motin had been provided with legal and consular support.
“The Embassy is in close contact with British authorities and the captain’s family,” the statement added.
Witnesses Describe Chaos at Sea
American crew members from the Stena Immaculate described the moment of impact, with one stating:
“A massive ship came out of the blue… it kept driving into us for about ten minutes. We just reacted on instinct, thanks to our emergency drills.”
Despite the chaos, all 23 crew from the US tanker were safely evacuated.
Next Steps in Legal Proceedings
Motin is expected to appear at a higher court for a preliminary hearing in the coming weeks. The CPS has reminded the public that criminal proceedings are now active and urged against any reporting or commentary that could prejudice the trial.
The investigation remains active, with further interviews, forensic analysis, and witness statements continuing to be gathered at sea and onshore.
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