A Russian captain, Vladimir Motin, has appeared in court charged with gross negligence manslaughter following a collision between his cargo ship, the Portuguese-flagged Solong, and a US-registered oil tanker, the Stena Immaculate, in the North Sea. The incident occurred off the East Yorkshire coast on Monday at approximately 10:00 GMT. Mark Angelo Pernia, a 38-year-old Filipino national, is missing and presumed dead as a result of the accident.
Captain Motin, 59, from Primorsky in St. Petersburg, did not enter a plea during his 35-minute hearing at Hull Magistrates’ Court. He was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear before the Central Criminal Court in London on April 14. Motin communicated through a translator, confirming his identity and understanding of the charges.
The collision involved the Solong, which was traveling from Grangemouth to Rotterdam, striking the anchored Stena Immaculate near the River Humber entrance. All 23 crew members from the tanker and 13 of the 14 from the Solong were rescued, but Mr. Pernia remains unaccounted for.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred on a route the Solong had frequently traveled. The Stena Immaculate, carrying 220,000 barrels of aviation fuel, remains anchored at the collision site. Despite initial environmental concerns due to fuel leakage, authorities have reported no significant pollution issues.
Humberside Police arrested Captain Motin on Monday evening on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter, and he was formally charged on Friday. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the charges in relation to Mr. Pernia’s presumed death. The incident has raised questions about maritime safety and the circumstances leading to the collision.