The captain of the Portuguese-flagged containership Solong has pleaded not guilty to charges of gross negligence manslaughter following a fatal collision with a U.S.-flagged tanker off the east coast of England.
Vladimir Motin, 59, of St. Petersburg, Russia, entered his plea in a UK court after being charged in connection with the March 10 incident that left one crew member missing and presumed dead.
The Solong was reportedly traveling at 16 knots when it struck the anchored Stena Immaculate, a tanker operated by U.S.-based Crowley and chartered by the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command. The collision occurred approximately 14 nautical miles northeast of Spurn Head in the North Sea.
An interim report by the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) indicates that the Solong hit the Stena Immaculate on its port side, puncturing a cargo tank and causing a major aviation fuel spill. The fuel ignited, sparking a fire that also spread to containers aboard the Solong.
At the time of the accident, visibility was reportedly poor, ranging from 0.25 to 2.0 nautical miles. Investigators say neither ship had a dedicated bridge lookout on duty.
Able Seaman Mark Pernia, who was stationed in the forecastle of the Stena Immaculate during the impact, remains missing and is presumed dead.
Crowley stated that the Stena Immaculate was anchored in accordance with instructions from local port authorities and was “operating in compliance with applicable watch-standing safety regulations and company policies.”
Authorities from the United Kingdom, United States, and Portugal are continuing a joint investigation into the incident.
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