On Friday, British police announced that a Russian ship captain has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter following a tragic maritime incident in which a member of his crew is missing and presumed dead. Vladimir Motin, the captain of the Portugal-flagged cargo vessel Solong, will appear before Hull Magistrates’ Court on Saturday. His current location or the status of his legal representation remains unconfirmed.
Motin, 59, from Primorsky, St. Petersburg, was apprehended in northeast England on Tuesday, a day after the Solong collided with the MV Stena Immaculate, a US military fuel tanker, in the North Sea. Humberside Police have stated that extensive searches for the missing crew member, Filipino national Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, have concluded with the conclusion that he is presumed dead. The family of the missing crew member is receiving support from specially trained officers.
The Crown Prosecution Service indicated that Motin is being charged in relation to the tragic incident, while Frank Ferguson, a prosecutor, confirmed that the police were given the authority to proceed with these charges. The Solong’s owner, Ernst Russ, previously noted that the ship’s crew comprised Russian and Filipino nationals.
Authorities have stated that at this time, there is no indication that the incident is linked to national security. An ongoing investigation by the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch aims to understand the circumstances surrounding the collision. The inquiry is being led by US and Portuguese officials since both vessels are registered in their respective countries.
Prior inspections of the Solong revealed serious safety concerns, including failures in steering mechanism checks during a July inspection in Dublin, where ten deficiencies were identified. These ranged from inadequate alarms to issues with lifeboats and fire doors. Despite these findings, the ship was not detained following either inspection, raising questions about maritime safety regulations.
The incident has sparked significant interest and concern due to its implications for maritime safety in the busy waters off the east coast of England.