Russian Ship Captain Receives Six-Year Prison Sentence for Deadly North Sea Collision
A Russian maritime captain has been sentenced to six years imprisonment following a fatal collision between his container vessel and a US oil tanker in the North Sea last March, which resulted in the death of one crew member.
Court Finds Captain Guilty of Manslaughter by Gross Negligence
Vladimir Motin, aged 59, was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence at the Old Bailey on Monday. The court heard how his vessel, the Solong, collided with the Stena Immaculate near the Humber Estuary. Both ships were carrying highly flammable cargo and were subsequently engulfed in a devastating fire.
Mark Angelo Pernia, a 38-year-old crew member working on the bow of the Solong, died instantly in the blaze. Tragically, his body was never recovered from the wreckage.
Prosecution Describes "Exceptionally Bad Negligence"
During the trial, Motin claimed to have made a critical error by pressing the wrong button while attempting to disengage the autopilot system. He testified that subsequent efforts to restart the steering gear proved completely ineffective.
However, prosecutors presented a starkly different account, describing Mr Pernia's death as the direct result of "truly, exceptionally bad negligence". They argued that Motin had:
- Provided false information about the incident
- Failed to summon emergency assistance
- Neglected to reduce speed or sound appropriate alarms
- Did not initiate a crash stop procedure as a final safety measure
Judge Condemns "Wholesale Failure of Duty"
During Thursday's sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Andrew Baker delivered a scathing assessment of Motin's conduct. The judge characterised the captain's version of events as "extremely implausible" and declared it "even worse" than the prosecution's narrative.
Justice Baker emphasised that Motin's failure to maintain a proper lookout represented a "wholesale failure of his duty" as a ship's captain, directly contributing to the fatal collision and subsequent loss of life.
The sentencing marks a significant conclusion to a tragic maritime incident that has highlighted critical safety concerns in international shipping operations.
