A Russian ship captain has been sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence following a fatal collision between his container vessel and an oil tanker near the Humber Estuary.
Catastrophic Collision and Immediate Aftermath
Vladimir Motin, 59, from St Petersburg, was on sole watch duty aboard the container ship Solong when it crashed into the anchored oil tanker Stena Immaculate on March 10 last year. The collision occurred in waters near the Humber Estuary in Yorkshire, resulting in an immediate and devastating fireball.
The Stena Immaculate was laden with aviation fuel at the time of impact, which ignited upon collision. Mark Angelo Pernia, a 38-year-old Filipino father of two who was working on the bow of the Solong, died instantly in the resulting inferno. Despite extensive search efforts, his body has never been recovered.
Trial Revelations and Judicial Scrutiny
Following a trial at the Old Bailey, Motin was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence. During proceedings, the prosecution successfully argued that the defendant had failed to maintain a proper watch, raise the alarm, or summon assistance in the critical moments before the disaster.
Motin offered an explanation that was thoroughly dismantled by the court. He claimed to have pressed the wrong button while attempting to switch off autopilot and steer away from the tanker in the minutes preceding the collision. However, this account was rejected by Mr Justice Andrew Baker as 'highly implausible' and 'extremely problematic'.
A Wholesale Failure of Duty
In his sentencing remarks delivered on Thursday, Justice Baker ruled that Motin had failed to keep a proper lookout, describing this as a 'wholesale failure of his duty' that persisted for an extended period. The judge suggested the basic facts of the collision indicated 'a ship unaware of the ship ahead', which represented the most likely explanation for the tragedy.
The judicial assessment of Motin's testimony was particularly damning. Justice Baker suggested the defendant had led jurors on what he termed a 'merry dance' with evidence that constituted an 'exercise in inventive distraction'. The judge explicitly stated: 'His claim to be confused was a lie that unravelled when tested at trial.'
Desperate Explanations and Final Judgment
Motin's additional explanation that he did not initiate a crash stop for fear of hitting the accommodation block of the Stena Immaculate was dismissed by Justice Baker as 'desperate stuff'. The judge concluded that the defendant's version of events was not only improbable but 'even worse' than the prosecution's account.
The sentencing marks the conclusion of a legal process that has highlighted serious questions about maritime safety protocols and the responsibilities of officers in command of commercial vessels. The case serves as a sobering reminder of the catastrophic consequences that can result from failures in watchkeeping and navigation procedures.
