Russian Captain Sentenced to Six Years for Fatal North Sea Collision
A Russian container ship captain has been jailed for six years following a catastrophic collision in the North Sea off the Yorkshire coast, which resulted in the death of a crew member. Vladimir Motin, aged 59, was described by an Old Bailey judge as a "serious accident waiting to happen" as he received his sentence for manslaughter by gross negligence.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The court heard that Motin was on sole watch duty and failed to take any action to prevent his vessel, the Solong, from crashing into a stationary oil tanker, the Stena Immaculate. This negligence led to a devastating explosion and fire, instantly killing Mark Angelo Pernia, a 38-year-old Filipino national, whose body was never recovered. Pernia left behind a five-year-old child and a second child born two months after his death, whom he never met.
During the trial, Motin claimed he pressed the wrong button while attempting to switch off autopilot and steer away from the tanker just minutes before the crash. He denied allegations of being asleep or leaving his post on the bridge. However, the judge, Mr Justice Andrew Baker, dismissed Motin's account as "extremely problematic," "improbable," and "extremely implausible," stating it was "even worse" than the prosecution's version of events.
Judicial Findings and Sentencing
Mr Justice Baker emphasised that Motin's failure to keep a proper lookout constituted a "wholesale failure of his duty" over an extended period. The prosecution argued that Motin not only neglected his watch but also failed to sound alarms, summon help, or warn either crew of the impending disaster. The judge highlighted that the collision "suggest a ship unaware of the ship ahead," which was the "most likely" explanation for the tragedy.
In sentencing Motin, who is from St Petersburg, the judge noted his "blatant disregard for the very high risk of death" and attributed the incident to complacency and arrogance. Motin was found guilty by a jury on Monday, with the judge stating that Pernia's death was "wholly avoidable" and placing the blame squarely on the defendant.
Impact and Aftermath
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Pernia's widow, Leacel, expressed that no compensation could alleviate the pain of her loss or the impact on her young family. During mitigation, James Leonard KC conveyed Motin's shame, condolences to the family, and his vow never to return to sea, highlighting his previously "blameless" record as an aberration.
The judge added that other crew members from both ships could have died, and the collision caused significant destruction of cargo. The Solong, measuring 130 metres in length and weighing 7,852 gross tonnes, had departed from Grangemouth in Scotland on 9 March 2025, bound for Rotterdam in the Netherlands. It carried alcoholic spirits and hazardous substances, including empty sodium cyanide containers.
The Stena Immaculate, with a crew of 23 and a length of 183 metres, was transporting over 220,000 barrels of JetA1 high-grade aviation fuel from Greece to the UK. Jurors were informed that with both ships laden with flammable cargo, the danger of a collision was evident.
Evidence and Reactions
CCTV footage captured the moment both vessels were engulfed in flames ignited by leaking fuel from the Stena Immaculate. Shocked crew members aboard the US tanker reacted immediately, exclaiming, "Holy shit ... what just hit us ... a container ship ... this is no drill, this is no drill, fire, fire, fire, we have had a collision."
Jurors heard a prolonged silence from the bridge of the Solong before it struck the oil tanker at a speed of 15.2 knots, with a full minute passing before Motin was heard reacting. This case underscores critical issues in maritime safety and the severe consequences of negligence at sea.
