The Russian captain of a container ship that ploughed into a US tanker off Britain’s east coast has been found guilty of causing a crewman’s death through gross negligence, following a trial at London’s Old Bailey.
Vladimir Motin, 59, was in command of the Portuguese-flagged Solong when it slammed into the anchored tanker Stena Immaculate on 10 March last year. The tanker was carrying more than 220,000 barrels of high-grade aviation fuel as it waited for a berth, when the impact sparked fires on both vessels and sent a Solong crew member into the sea.
That crewman, Mark Pernia, a Filipino national, was never recovered and is presumed dead. Prosecutors told the court that Pernia’s wife was seven months pregnant at the time of the collision and has since given birth to their child.
During the trial, prosecutor Tom Little said Motin had done “absolutely nothing” to avert disaster, despite the Solong being on a collision course for more than half an hour.
The ship’s alarm system had been switched off and neither crew received any warning before the crash. The Stena Immaculate was struck at around 18 miles per hour, pitching Pernia overboard amid the ensuing blaze.
Motin’s defence argued that while he bore responsibility, his actions did not amount to gross negligence. His lawyer, James Leonard, said Motin had unsuccessfully tried to disengage the autopilot and alter course.
The captain, who pleaded not guilty, told the court he had sailed the route from Grangemouth in Scotland to Rotterdam in the Netherlands many times before. The Solong was mainly carrying alcohol.
Speculation briefly surfaced that Motin’s Russian nationality could point to deliberate sabotage, but maritime security sources dismissed any suggestion of malicious intent.
The jury rejected the defence and convicted Motin of the gross negligence manslaughter of Mark Pernia. He is due to be sentenced on Thursday.
The collision has also triggered civil proceedings. The Solong’s owner, a subsidiary of German shipping firm Ernst Russ, is facing a lawsuit at London’s High Court and has applied to have the case dismissed, with a hearing scheduled for next month.
Ernst Russ said it had established a fund for potential claims and reiterated its condolences to Pernia’s family, describing their resilience during what it called an exceptionally difficult time.