British authorities have charged Vladimir Motin, the 59-year-old Russian captain of the cargo ship Solong, with manslaughter and gross negligence following a fatal collision in the North Sea.
Motin, from Primorsky in Saint Petersburg, appeared at Hull Magistrates Court on Saturday where he was remanded in custody after not applying for bail.
The incident occurred Monday when the Portuguese-flagged Solong container vessel crashed at full speed into the anchored Stena Immaculate tanker off Hull’s northeastern coast. The Stena Immaculate was carrying United States military jet fuel at the time of the collision, which triggered massive fires and explosions.
Mark Angelo Pernia, a 38-year-old Filipino crew member from the Solong, went missing during the crash and is now “presumed deceased,” according to Humberside police. “Extensive searches were carried out by HM Coastguard to locate the missing crew member,” police stated, adding that Pernia’s family is receiving support from specialist officers.
All other crew members—36 in total from both vessels—survived and were safely brought ashore.
The Russian embassy in London reported having a “detailed telephone conversation with the captain” on Thursday. According to their Telegram statement, Motin “feels well” and has been provided with an interpreter and legal representation, with whom embassy staff “maintain constant contact.” The embassy also confirmed it remains in “close contact with the British competent authorities.”
Salvage companies have boarded both vessels to conduct initial damage assessments. The Stena Immaculate remains anchored at the crash site while the Solong has drifted southward.
Chief coastguard Paddy O’Callaghan provided an update Friday, describing both vessels as “stable” with only “small periodic pockets of fire on the Solong, which are not causing undue concern.” He noted that specialized firefighting tugs remain positioned at both vessels and there continues to be “no cause for concern” regarding pollution from the incident.
While British Prime Minister Keir Starmer characterized the situation as “reasonably contained” on Thursday, and the government has ruled out foul play, investigators continue examining the causes of the collision.
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