North Sea collision: Russian cargo ship captain charged with gross negligence manslaughter as dead crew member named
The Russian captain of a cargo ship which crashed into an oil tanker in the North Sea on Monday has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter, police have said.
Vladimir Motin, 59, had captained the Solong container vessel as it careered into the Stena Immaculate.
And though 36 people from both vessels made it ashore, one member of the Solong’s crew remains unaccounted for, and is presumed dead.
On Friday evening, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) named the dead crew member as Filipino national Mark Angelo Pernia, 38.
Humberside Police were given extra time to hold Motin “due to the complexities of the incident” – and have said the unaccounted-for crew member’s family is being supported by specialist officers.
A statement on Friday read: “The man was arrested late on Monday evening and he has remained in custody since this time with an additional 36-hour extension granted by the magistrates’ court on Wednesday March 12, and now a further 24-hour extension granted yesterday afternoon, Thursday March 13.
“Additional time has been imperative to the investigation due to the complexities of the incident with the vessels in the sea, the number of witnesses involved and establishing any scenes to collate and gather information and evidence.
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“Extensive lines of inquiry are continuing, and further updates will be provided when we can.”
The police statement continued: “Specialist officers are continuing to support family of the missing crew member of the Solong, who is believed to be deceased.
“Our thoughts are with the family at this incredibly difficult time.”
A statement from Frank Ferguson, chief of the CPS’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “We have authorised Humberside Police to charge a Russian national in relation to a collision involving two vessels in the North Sea off the east coast of England.
“The Portuguese-registered cargo ship, the Solong, collided with the American-registered oil tanker, the Stena Immaculate, just before 10am on Monday, March 10, 2025.
“Filipino national Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, died.
“Vladimir Motin, 59, from St Petersburg, Russia, who was the vessel’s captain, is due to be charged with one count of gross negligence manslaughter.
“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”