Captain jailed over North Sea tanker crash death
A Russian container ship captain has been sentenced to six years in prison for gross negligence manslaughter following a fatal collision in the North Sea.
Vladimir Motin, 59, was in charge of the cargo ship Solong when it crashed into the stationary US oil tanker Stena Immaculate off the coast of East Yorkshire on 10 March 2025. The impact triggered a massive explosion and fire that killed 38-year-old Filipino crew member Mark Angelo Pernia, whose body was never recovered.
⚖️ The Court’s Findings
During the sentencing at the Old Bailey on Thursday 5 February 2026, Mr Justice Andrew Baker described the disaster as "completely avoidable."
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"A Serious Accident Waiting to Happen": The judge ruled that Motin had shown "complacency and arrogance" by failing to keep a proper lookout. The tanker was visible on radar for 36 minutes before the crash and to the naked eye for 12 minutes, yet Motin took no action to change course or slow down.
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Safety Failures: Motin was on sole watch duty at the time and had intentionally disabled the ship’s bridge alarm system, which is designed to ensure the captain remains alert.
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"Implausible" Excuses: Motin claimed he had tried to steer away but accidentally pressed the wrong button on the autopilot. The judge dismissed this as a lie and an "exercise in inventive distraction," stating the most likely explanation was that Motin was simply unaware of the ship ahead.
💔 Impact on the Victim's Family
The court heard a moving victim impact statement from Mr Pernia’s widow, Leacel. She explained that her husband died just two months before their second child was born—a baby he never had the chance to meet. She stated that no amount of compensation could make up for the "pain and longing" her family now feels every day.
🚢 What Happens Next?
Motin, who has vowed never to go to sea again, will serve at least half of his sentence behind residence. Beyond the criminal trial, the owners of the Solong are facing multi-million-pound civil lawsuits in the High Court regarding the destruction of cargo and the environmental damage caused by the leaking aviation fuel.
