Captain of Containership Charged with Gross Negligence Manslaughter After Collision

The captain of the Portuguese-flagged containership Solong that collided with the American-flagged tanker Stena Immaculate off England on March 10 recently appeared in court to face charges of gross negligence manslaughter. Vladimir Motin, a 59-year-old from Primorsky, St Petersburg, Russia, was remanded to police custody after being officially charged by the Humberside Police.

During his court appearance in Hull, England, Motin, accompanied by an interpreter, did not enter a plea. The court ordered him to be held until a hearing scheduled for April 14 at the Central Criminal Court, also known as the “Old Bailey” in the UK.

Prosecutor Amelia Katz revealed that Motin was in command of the Solong when the vessel struck the anchored Stena Immaculate at a speed exceeding 15 knots. She stated that the containership made no effort to adjust its course or speed to avoid the collision, and there were no communication attempts to warn the tanker.

Mark Angelo Pernia, a Filipino crewmember on the Solong, is missing and presumed dead following the collision and subsequent fires. The Crown Prosecution Service authorized the manslaughter charge in connection with Pernia’s death.

A spokesperson for Ernst Russ, the owners of the Solong, refrained from commenting on the ongoing police investigation but assured full support for the crew and cooperation with the authorities. Both vessels involved in the incident were reported to be stable, with salvage teams planning the next steps.

While small fires continued to sporadically appear on the Solong, HM Coastguard confirmed that they were not a significant concern. The containership is currently being held in position by a tow line, and there is speculation about possible towing efforts to remove the vessel from the North Sea. The Stena Immaculate remains anchored at the location where it was struck by the Solong.