The captain of the Solong container vessel, Vladimir Motin, faces charges of manslaughter and gross negligence in connection to the death of a crew member after his ship collided with a US fuel tanker in the North Sea. British police have apprehended the Russian captain, who will stand trial at Hull Magistrates Court. On Monday, the Solong vessel, which Motin commanded, struck the Stena Immaculate tanker, carrying US military jet fuel, as it was anchored off the northern English coast. The impact resulted in massive fires and explosions, leading to the death of one crew member, Mark Angelo Pernia, a 38-year-old Filipino national. The search for Pernia, now presumed dead, was conducted by HM Coastguard. The police have emphasized their support for performing the missing crew member’s family during this difficult time. The remaining 36 crew members from both ships survived the incident and have been brought ashore. The Russian embassy confirmed its lawyers’ contact with Captain Motin, assuring his well-being and their ongoing communication with British authorities. Salvage companies have assessed the damage to both vessels, with the Stena Immaculate staying anchored at the crash site and the Solong drifting south. The coastguard reported that both ships are stable, with only minor fires on the Solong and no pollution concerns. The UK’s Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, stated that the situation is contained, as investigations into the cause of the collision continue.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/15/russian-captain-in-north-sea-crash-charged-with-manslaughter?traffic_source=rss