Russian Captain Sentenced to Six Years in UK Court Over Fatal Collision with U.S. Tanker
LONDON, Feb 5 (Reuters) – Vladimir Motin, the 59-year-old Russian captain of the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong, was sentenced to six years imprisonment on Thursday at London’s Old Bailey court. The ruling follows his conviction for gross negligence manslaughter in a maritime collision that claimed the life of a crew member last March.
The incident occurred on the morning of March 10, 2025, when the Solong struck the anchored U.S.-owned chemical tanker Stena Immaculate in the North Sea, approximately 20 nautical miles off England’s east coast. The impact resulted in the death of 38-year-old Filipino seafarer Mark Pernia, a crew member aboard the Solong. Despite extensive search efforts, Pernia’s body was never recovered; he was later presumed dead.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Captain Motin failed to maintain a proper lookout and disregarded basic navigational protocols while the vessel was approaching a known anchorage area in fair weather. Evidence presented suggested the bridge was undermanned and that critical collision-avoidance systems may have been ignored.
Passing sentence, Judge Andrew Baker stated that Pernia died "under your command and directly because of your gross negligence." He emphasized that the sentence must reflect the profound breach of trust placed in a ship’s captain to ensure the safety of their crew.
The case has drawn attention to ongoing safety and manning concerns within the international shipping industry, particularly regarding compliance with procedures in congested sea lanes. Legal experts note that while prosecutions of senior officers are rare, this sentence signals a tougher judicial stance on maritime negligence leading to loss of life.
Reaction & Analysis:
"This is a tragic but clear-cut case of failure in fundamental seamanship," said Michael Thorne, a former marine accident investigator. "The sentence underscores that the captain’s ultimate responsibility cannot be delegated or ignored."
"Six years is a slap on the wrist for costing a man his life and leaving a family without answers or a body to bury," said Sarah Chen, a spokesperson for a seafarers' welfare association. "It feels like the system still values cargo and schedules over the lives of crew, especially those from the Global South."
"The legal precedent here is significant," noted David Reeves, a maritime law specialist. "It reinforces that UK courts will hold foreign-flagged vessels and their officers accountable for serious breaches occurring in British waters or involving British ports."
(Reporting by Sam Tobin; Edited by William James and Reuters News Desk)