Russian Captain Charged in Fatal North Sea Cargo Ship Collision

The captain of the Solong faces manslaughter charges after a collision with a U.S. military oil tanker left one crew member presumed dead.

Vladimir Motin, 59, the Russian captain of the cargo ship Solong, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and will appear in Hull Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.
The collision occurred on Monday when the Solong, traveling at full speed, struck the stationary U.S.-flagged tanker Stena Immaculate, which was carrying jet fuel for the U.S. military.
One crew member from the Solong, 38-year-old Filipino national Mark Angelo Pernia, is missing and presumed dead, while 36 other crew members from both vessels were rescued.
Despite initial fears of an environmental disaster, assessments indicate that most of the jet fuel burned off, with no significant pollution detected, and both vessels have been stabilized for salvage operations.
Investigators are examining potential safety failures, including the Solong’s history of unresolved deficiencies in steering and emergency systems, as well as the circumstances leading to the crash.