Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The captain of the cargo vessel Solong has been accused of failing to take any action to prevent a collision with a US oil tanker in the North Sea that resulted in the death of one of his crew. The incident occurred on 10 March off the coast of East Yorkshire and involved the Solong striking the tanker Stena Immaculate. Among those affected was crew member Mark Angelo Pernia, aged 38, who remains missing and is presumed dead.
Vladimir Motin, the 59-year-old captain from Primorsky in St Petersburg, Russia, was responsible for navigating the Solong at the time of the crash. According to testimony at the Old Bailey, despite being highly trained and having ample information warning him of the danger ahead, Motin failed to take any evasive action. He denies the charge of gross negligence manslaughter linked to the incident.
During the opening statements, prosecutor Tom Little KC described the case as centered on “the entirely avoidable death of a seaman.” He emphasized that Motin’s grossly negligent behaviour was the key factor that led to the fatality. Little highlighted that the collision course was clearly visible both visually from the ship’s bridge and through navigation equipment, yet Motin did not change his vessel’s path. It was noted that at the time of the incident, Motin was solely on watch on the bridge and held full responsibility for the ship’s navigation.
The Solong, flying a Portuguese flag, was en route south from Grangemouth in Scotland heading to Rotterdam. Prosecutors argued that the vessel should have diverted eastwards to safely bypass anchored ships waiting to enter the Humber Estuary. Instead, the course chosen directly contributed to the collision. Upon reaching Grimsby Dock, Motin reportedly told police he had seen the tanker and attempted to switch to manual control but was unable to prevent the crash, claiming he panicked. Furthermore, it was stated that he failed to alert either his own crew or the crew of the Stena Immaculate before the impact. In a WhatsApp exchange with his wife, Motin admitted: “There has been a disaster and I will be found guilty.” He later explained in a police interview that he was referring to being found guilty under maritime navigation rules. After being formally charged with manslaughter, he insisted, “I didn’t do it deliberately.” The trial is ongoing
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.