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Avoidable North Sea Tragedy Claims Seaman's Life
14 Jan
Summary
- A Russian captain is on trial for manslaughter following a ship collision.
- The collision occurred in the North Sea between two cargo vessels.
- A seaman died in the incident, with his body never recovered.
A Russian captain, Vladimir Motin, is currently on trial at the Old Bailey for manslaughter following a fatal ship collision in the North Sea. The incident occurred on March 10 of last year when Motin, aged 59, was on sole watch duty. His container ship, the Solong, collided with the oil tanker Stena Immaculate, leading to the death of 38-year-old seaman Mark Angelo Pernia.
Prosecutors contend that the collision was entirely avoidable, highlighting that the Stena Immaculate would have been visible on the Solong's radar nearly 40 minutes before impact. Despite this, Captain Motin allegedly did not alter the ship's course, leading to what is described as a "grossly negligent" act. Pernia's body has never been recovered since the collision.
The Solong, carrying alcoholic spirits and hazardous substances, had departed Grangemouth, Scotland, bound for Rotterdam. The Stena Immaculate was transporting aviation fuel. The two vessels, both over 130 meters long, crashed approximately 12 hours after the Solong began its journey, with the Solong traveling at high speed and without warning.
