Russian Captain Convicted of Manslaughter in Fatal North Sea Tanker Collision

Russian Captain Convicted in North Sea Collision

A London court has found Vladimir Motin, a Russian captain, guilty of gross negligence manslaughter after a fatal collision in the North Sea on March 10, 2025. The incident involved his cargo ship, the MV Solong, and the anchored US oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate, leading to the death of a crew member and a significant fire. The verdict was delivered on Monday, February 2, 2026, at the Old Bailey, following an eight-hour deliberation by the jury. Motin, 59, from St. Petersburg, is scheduled for sentencing on Thursday.

Details of the Collision and Negligence

The collision occurred off the coast of East Yorkshire, near the Humber Estuary, approximately 10.2 nautical miles from the nearest point on the coast. Prosecutors alleged that Captain Motin was on sole watch duty aboard the Portuguese-flagged Solong when it struck the US-registered Stena Immaculate. The Solong, measuring 130 meters, was carrying alcoholic spirits and hazardous substances, while the 183-meter Stena Immaculate was laden with jet fuel for the U.S. military and was anchored at the time.

The court heard that the Solong had been on a collision course with the Stena Immaculate for over 30 minutes. Motin was accused of failing to take critical actions to prevent the crash, including:

• Failing to summon help
• Failing to slow down the vessel
• Failing to sound the alarm to alert crews
• Failing to instigate a crash stop as a last resort

Prosecutors further alleged that Motin 'did absolutely nothing' to prevent the collision and later 'lied about what happened'.

Tragic Loss and Environmental Threat

The collision resulted in a massive fire that engulfed both vessels and burned for eight days. Mark Angelo Pernia, a 38-year-old Filipino national working on the bow of the Solong, died instantly in the blaze. His body has never been recovered. Senior Specialist Crown Prosecutor Michael Gregory described the incident as 'a tragic, and entirely avoidable death of a member of crew caused by truly, exceptionally bad negligence.' Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson remarked that it was 'a miracle that there weren't more fatalities or serious injuries' and highlighted the potential for a 'huge environmental catastrophe' given the flammable cargo on both ships.

Aftermath and Legal Proceedings

All 23 crew members from the Stena Immaculate and 13 from the Solong were rescued. Motin was arrested shortly after the incident and charged with gross negligence manslaughter. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial commenced on January 12, 2026, at the Old Bailey in London. The jury's verdict marks the culmination of the legal proceedings surrounding the devastating maritime incident.