Cargo Ship Captain Charged With Gross Negligence Manslaughter After North Sea Collision.
The captain of a cargo ship involved in a fatal collision with an oil tanker in the North Sea has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter, authorities have confirmed.
Vladimir Motin, 59, from Primorsky, St Petersburg, Russia, has been remanded in custody and is set to appear before Hull Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, according to Humberside Police.
The incident occurred on Monday at around 10:00 GMT when the Portuguese-flagged Solong collided with the US-registered tanker Stena Immaculate off the East Yorkshire coast.
Missing Crew Member Presumed Dead
Following the crash, 38-year-old Filipino national Mark Angelo Pernia, a crew member of the Solong, was reported missing and is now presumed dead, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed.
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, stated:
“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.”
He further emphasised the importance of a fair trial, warning against any commentary or sharing of information online that could prejudice legal proceedings.
Investigation and Salvage Efforts Underway
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is currently working to determine the cause of the collision. Initial findings suggest the Solong was en route from Grangemouth to Rotterdam, a route it had frequently sailed, when it struck the Stena Immaculate at anchor near the River Humber at 09:47 GMT.
The Stena Immaculate, which was carrying 220,000 barrels of aviation fuel, sustained significant damage. However, salvage experts from SMIT Salvage have since boarded the vessel to conduct a detailed assessment.
Stena Bulk, the vessel’s operator, confirmed that the salvage process is “necessarily methodical, comprehensive and ongoing” and will take time to complete.
Minimal Fire Risk and No Pollution Threat
Chief Coastguard Paddy O’Callaghan provided reassurance regarding safety concerns, stating that only “small periodic pockets of fire” remained on the Solong but posed no immediate threat.
Regular aerial surveillance has also confirmed that there is “no cause for concern from pollution” from either vessel.
Meanwhile, all 23 American crew members aboard the Stena Immaculate are currently in Grimsby and are expected to be repatriated soon.
As the investigation continues, maritime authorities remain focused on ensuring safety at sea and preventing further incidents of this nature.
