The Russian captain of a container ship that crashed into a US oil tanker in the North Sea last month has appeared in court accused of manslaughter by gross negligence.
The Solong’s master, Vladimir Motin, 59, of Primorsky, St Petersburg, is charged over the death of crew member Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, who was reported missing and presumed dead following the collision on March 10.
Motin was master of the Portuguese-flagged Solong when it crashed into the anchored US tanker Stena Immaculate - which was carrying 220,000 barrels of aviation fuel - off the East Yorkshire coast.
All 23 people on the tanker were rescued along with 13 crew from the Solong.
The Solong’s master, Vladimir Motin, 59, of Primorsky, St Petersburg, is charged over the death of crew member Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, who was reported missing and presumed dead following the collision on March 10
PA
Pernia – a 38-year-old Filipino - who was working in the forward deck of the Solong, in the area where there was an explosion, could not be found.
Motin appeared by video link from Hull prison for a short hearing at the Old Bailey today.
But in the absence of a Russian interpreter to assist the defendant, Judge Mark Lucraft KC adjourned his plea hearing until May 30.
Motin, who is facing a provisional trial on January 12, 2026, was remanded into custody.
A previous hearing was told that the fatal collision happened at about 9.47am on March 10 at 10.2 nautical miles from the nearest point on the coast, a previous hearing was told.
The 140m-long Solong is Portuguese-registered and was carrying about 157 containers.
The Stena Immaculate is 183m long and was carrying jet fuel.
Firefighting teams scramble to extinguish the North Sea blaze yesterdayPAIt anchored at the point of the collision about 15 hours before the impact.
The Solong was travelling at about 15 knots when it hit the port side of the other vessel.
The Solong was towed to Aberdeen in late March, while the Stena Immaculate was towed to Great Yarmouth last week.
