Russian Captain Sentenced Following Crew Member’s Fatality in US Tanker Collision
In a significant legal ruling, the captain of a container ship involved in a tragic collision with a U.S. tanker off the east coast of Britain has been sentenced to six years in prison. This decision comes after he was found guilty of causing the death of a crew member due to gross negligence.
Vladimir Motin, a 59-year-old Russian national, was at the helm of the Portuguese-flagged vessel Solong when it collided with the Stena Immaculate tanker on March 10, 2025. At the time of the incident, the tanker was anchored and transporting over 220,000 barrels of high-grade aviation fuel.
The collision ignited a fire on both ships, leading to the tragic loss of Mark Pernia, a 38-year-old crew member from the Philippines. Pernia’s body has never been recovered, adding to the heartache of his family and loved ones.
During the trial, Motin’s defense attorney, James Leonard, argued that while the captain made errors in judgment, he was not grossly negligent. Leonard claimed that Motin had attempted to disengage the Solong from autopilot and alter its course before the crash occurred.
However, the jury at London’s Old Bailey court found Motin guilty, leading to his sentencing on Thursday. Judge Andrew Baker did not hold back in his criticism of Motin’s actions, describing him as an “accident waiting to happen.” The judge emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that Pernia died “under your command … and because of your gross negligence.”
In a poignant moment during the proceedings, prosecutor Tom Little read a heartfelt statement from Pernia’s wife, who was living in the Philippines and seven months pregnant with their second child at the time of the tragedy. She expressed her enduring grief, saying, “Our longing for him will remain forever.”
(Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by William James)
Photograph: Smoke rises from the Solong cargo ship off the UK’s east coast on March 11, 2025. Photo credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
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In a significant legal ruling, the captain of a container ship involved in a tragic collision with a U.S. tanker off the east coast of Britain has been sentenced to six years in prison. This decision comes after he was found guilty of causing the death of a crew member due to gross negligence.
Vladimir Motin, a 59-year-old Russian national, was at the helm of the Portuguese-flagged vessel Solong when it collided with the Stena Immaculate tanker on March 10, 2025. At the time of the incident, the tanker was anchored and transporting over 220,000 barrels of high-grade aviation fuel.
The collision ignited a fire on both ships, leading to the tragic loss of Mark Pernia, a 38-year-old crew member from the Philippines. Pernia’s body has never been recovered, adding to the heartache of his family and loved ones.
During the trial, Motin’s defense attorney, James Leonard, argued that while the captain made errors in judgment, he was not grossly negligent. Leonard claimed that Motin had attempted to disengage the Solong from autopilot and alter its course before the crash occurred.
However, the jury at London’s Old Bailey court found Motin guilty, leading to his sentencing on Thursday. Judge Andrew Baker did not hold back in his criticism of Motin’s actions, describing him as an “accident waiting to happen.” The judge emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that Pernia died “under your command … and because of your gross negligence.”
In a poignant moment during the proceedings, prosecutor Tom Little read a heartfelt statement from Pernia’s wife, who was living in the Philippines and seven months pregnant with their second child at the time of the tragedy. She expressed her enduring grief, saying, “Our longing for him will remain forever.”
(Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by William James)
Photograph: Smoke rises from the Solong cargo ship off the UK’s east coast on March 11, 2025. Photo credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
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