The Old Bailey jury convicted Russian captain Vladimir Motin of manslaughter by gross negligence after his cargo ship, the Solong, collided with the tanker Stena Immaculate in the North Sea, igniting a large fire. Filipino sailor Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, went missing after the crash and his body has not been recovered. Key evidence included black box data showing no course or speed changes, a disabled alarm system, bridge audio and phone footage of the fire. Motin, who says he pressed the wrong button, will be sentenced on Thursday.
Russian Captain Convicted of Manslaughter After Fiery North Sea Collision
The collision at speed last March set both vessels ablaze and triggered a massive offshore rescue operation (Paul ELLIS)(Paul ELLIS/AFP/AFP)
The captain of a Russian cargo vessel has been convicted by a London jury of manslaughter by gross negligence after his ship struck an anchored oil tanker in the North Sea, triggering a major blaze and the loss of a crew member.
Verdict and Sentencing
After eight hours of deliberation at the Old Bailey, jurors found Vladimir Motin guilty of the manslaughter of 38-year-old Filipino sailor Mark Angelo Pernia. Motin, from Saint Petersburg, showed no visible emotion when the verdict was read. He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on Thursday.
What Happened
The collision occurred in March when Motin's Portuguese-flagged cargo ship, the Solong, struck the anchored, oil-laden tanker Stena Immaculate. The impact set both vessels alight and prompted a large offshore rescue operation. Pernia, who was married and had a young child, was lost at sea and his body has never been recovered.
Evidence Presented
Prosecutors relied on multiple pieces of evidence. Data recovered from the Solong's black box reportedly showed no adjustments to course or speed before the collision. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) also said the ship's alarm system had been disabled, leaving Motin alone as the primary monitor of the vessel's instruments.
"This was a tragic, and entirely avoidable death of a member of crew caused by truly, exceptionally bad negligence," said prosecutor Michael Gregory. Investigating officer Craig Nicholson described the incident as a "senseless tragedy."
Audio recordings from the Solong's bridge and a visual reconstruction of the vessel's path were played to jurors. About an hour before the crash, crew members were heard speaking calmly; as the ship closed on the tanker there was silence on the bridge until the violent impact. Phone footage filmed by the Solong's third-in-command, Joesen Mariposila, showed flames and rising smoke, and captured him repeating "Lord help us" as conditions deteriorated.
Defence Case and Other Details
Motin's lawyer said the captain attempted to disengage autopilot and steer manually to avoid the collision, but that the attempt failed. Motin told the court he had made a "mistake" and pressed the wrong button. The jury heard Motin had captained the Solong for 15 years and was described as a "highly trained" seaman.
However, prosecutors argued that Motin "did nothing to avoid the collision" and "could, and should, have acted differently" once the vessel was clearly on a collision course. WhatsApp messages sent to Motin by his wife were cited by the CPS as undermining his credibility; she allegedly urged him to consider an alibi and to say he had not seen the other vessel on the control displays.
Aftermath
The Stena Immaculate had been chartered by the US military at the time of the incident. Authorities emphasised the seriousness of a captain's duty of care at sea: a breach can have catastrophic consequences for crew, the environment and shipping safety.
Motin will return to court for sentencing. The case has drawn attention to bridge procedures, watchkeeping standards and the critical role of vessel alarms and data recorders in maritime safety investigations.
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