Graphic video and audio recordings of a catastrophic maritime collision that claimed the life of a Filipino seaman have been presented to a jury at the Old Bailey. The incident occurred when the container ship Solong struck the anchored oil tanker Stena Immaculate near the Humber Estuary in March last year.
The Catastrophic Collision and Fatal Blaze
On the morning of 10 March last year, the Solong, under the sole watch of 59-year-old Russian officer Vladimir Motin, collided with the Stena Immaculate at 9.47am. The anchored tanker was carrying over 220,000 barrels of JetA1 aviation fuel from Greece to the UK. The impact caused a massive leak, igniting a fireball that engulfed both vessels.
Filipino crew member Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, who had been working at the front of the Solong, died in the inferno. His body has never been recovered. The court heard that crewmates attempted to search for him but were prevented by the intense flames.
Chilling Audio and the Failed Manoeuvre
Jurors were played harrowing audio clips by Detective Constable Richard Bayley. On a recording from the Stena Immaculate, a loud crash is heard, followed by American crew shouts of: 'Holy s***... what just hit us... a container ship... this is no drill, this is no drill, fire fire fire, we have had a collision.' Alarm bells and a foghorn sound repeatedly in the background.
From the Solong, a male voice is heard pleading, 'Lord help us. Lord help us. Lord help us.' Audio revealed that a full minute passed after the collision before Motin could be heard attempting to radio the Stena Immaculate.
Defence barrister James Leonard KC stated that Motin had the Stena Immaculate on radar nine nautical miles away and had visual sight at three miles. The Solong was on autopilot at about 16 knots. Motin claims he tried to take manual control to steer to starboard when one nautical mile away, a manoeuvre which, if successful, would have avoided the crash. However, the attempt failed and the ship did not change course.
Trial Focus on an 'Entirely Avoidable' Death
Prosecutor Tom Little KC has told the court that Mr Pernia's death was 'entirely avoidable'. The defence has invited jurors to consider whether it was reasonable for Motin to wait until he was one nautical mile from the tanker before attempting to steer away.
The Solong, with a crew of 14, was carrying alcoholic spirits and hazardous substances, including empty sodium cyanide containers. Following the collision, Motin gave the order to abandon ship, and the surviving crew escaped on a lifeboat.
Earlier in the trial, Mr Justice Baker discharged one juror for not focusing on the evidence. The trial of Vladimir Motin, from Primorsky, St Petersburg, who denies manslaughter, was adjourned until Thursday.
