North Sea ship crash captain denies manslaughter of crew member

The Russian captain of a cargo ship involved in a collision with an oil tanker in the North Sea has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of gross negligence manslaughter. Vladimir Motin, who was at the helm of the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship Solong when it crashed into the US tanker Stena Immaculate off the coast of East Yorkshire, has been remanded in custody as he awaits trial. Following the incident on 10th March, a Filipino crew member from the Solong, Mark Angelo Pernia, is presumed missing and is feared dead.

Vladimir Motin, a 59-year-old from Primorsky in St Petersburg, Russia, appeared in court via video link from prison, confirming his identity and plea with the assistance of a Russian interpreter. The trial date has been scheduled for 12th January 2026 and a case management hearing is set for 10th September. The proceedings are taking place at London’s Central Criminal Court, commonly known as the Old Bailey.

The collision occurred approximately 13 miles (20km) off the East Yorkshire coast, close to the areas of Hull and Grimsby, within a bustling maritime route. The Solong was en route from the Scottish port of Grangemouth to Rotterdam in the Netherlands when the incident transpired. An interim report issued by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch detailed that 36 crew members were successfully rescued by responders from both vessels involved in the crash.

Following the crash on 10th March, smoke was observed emanating from the Solong cargo ship as emergency response efforts were put into action. Despite the tragic circumstances of the incident, the maritime community has displayed commendable coordination and swift action in the aftermath of the collision. The legal proceedings surrounding the case are expected to unfold over the course of the coming months, shedding further light on the events leading up to the North Sea collision

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