Russian Captain Pleads Not Guilty to Manslaughter After U.S. Tanker Crash Off U.K. Coast
LONDON, May 30, 2025 — The Russian captain of a container ship involved in a deadly collision with a U.S. tanker off Britain’s east coast has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter by gross negligence in a U.K. court.
Vladimir Motin, 59, who was commanding the Portuguese-flagged vessel Solong, appeared at London’s Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey, via videolink on Friday. He entered a formal plea of not guilty to the charge related to the death of 38-year-old Filipino crew member Mark Pernia, who is missing and presumed dead following the March 10 incident.
Deadly Collision in the North Sea
The incident took place on March 10, 2025, in the busy waters off the eastern coast of the United Kingdom. The Solong, under Motin’s command, collided with the Stena Immaculate, a U.S.-operated tanker transporting military-grade jet fuel.
The collision caused serious damage to both vessels. Pernia, a crew member on the Solong, has been unaccounted for since the accident and is presumed to have died at sea. The gravity of the incident prompted a swift investigation by U.K. maritime authorities.
Four days after the incident, British prosecutors formally charged Motin with gross negligence manslaughter, alleging that his failure to exercise proper care directly led to the death of his crew member.
The Court Appearance
During Friday’s hearing, Motin, speaking through a videolink, calmly denied the charge. He will now face trial proceedings in the coming months.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is expected to argue that Motin’s conduct fell significantly below the standard expected of a captain navigating a commercial vessel in such critical shipping lanes.
Legal Implications and International Scrutiny
The case has drawn attention due to its international dimensions, involving a Russian captain, a Portuguese-flagged ship, a U.S. tanker, and a Filipino national. The Stena Immaculate, which escaped with no reported fatalities, was carrying sensitive cargo — a fact that has raised questions about marine safety protocols and oversight in congested sea routes.
British maritime regulators have already launched a broader review into how such vessels are coordinated in the North Sea, particularly when military or hazardous materials are involved.
What Happens Next?
Motin remains under conditional bail, with restrictions on travel and professional maritime activity. The court has yet to set a final date for the trial, but pre-trial proceedings are expected to continue through the summer.
The case may set a legal precedent for how gross negligence manslaughter is applied to international maritime collisions involving foreign nationals in British waters.