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The captain of the cargo vessel involved in a fatal collision with an oil tanker testified in court that he had been informed days earlier about a steering issue affecting another ship of the same type. Vladimir Motin was at the helm of the Solong when it collided with the Stena Immaculate, a US tanker, off the coast of East Yorkshire on 10 March 2025. The accident resulted in the disappearance and presumed death of 38-year-old crew member Mark Angelo Pernia.
During his testimony at the Old Bailey in London, Motin explained that someone from the shipping company had mentioned a “sudden rudder blockage” on a sister ship. He was advised not to be alarmed if such a problem occurred on the Solong, as it could be resolved by rebooting the steering gears—specifically by stopping and restarting the pump. Motin further stated that the incident on the other vessel was still under investigation, and the person had asked him whether he had experienced a similar fault so it could be reported to the technical management team. He confirmed that no such issue had ever arisen on the Solong.
Motin, who has been working on ships since 1985 and captained the Solong since 2009, described the conditions on the day of the incident. Visibility was reported to be about three nautical miles (approximately 5.5 km), and it was daylight when he returned to his watch. Under these circumstances, Motin said he believed a second person on the bridge was not necessary. When questioned by the defense lawyer, James Leonard KC, if he felt comfortable being alone on the bridge, Motin responded affirmatively, explaining that he was accustomed to solo watches in similar weather and visibility conditions.
Earlier testimony revealed that Motin attempted to take manual control of the vessel’s steering when it was about one mile (1.6 km) from the Stena Immaculate, but the ship’s autopilot failed to disengage. The 59-year-old, originally from Primorsky in St Petersburg, Russia, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of gross negligence manslaughter. The trial is ongoing
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