Tanker Crash Captain Denies Falling Asleep

A cargo ship captain at the Old Bailey has steadfastly denied accusations of negligence related to a maritime collision. Vladimir Motin, the captain of the Solong, asserted that he did not fall asleep or lose consciousness prior to the incident involving the US tanker Stena Immaculate off the East Yorkshire coast on March 10, 2025.

Key Details from the Trial

– Accusation: Motin faces a charge of gross negligence manslaughter, amid serious claims regarding his state of alertness during the crash.
– Incident Overview: The collision left 38-year-old Mark Angelo Pernia missing and presumed dead.
– Captain’s Testimony:
– He was the sole officer on watch at the time of the accident.
– Motin answered no when questioned about sleeping before the crash, emphasizing his wakefulness.
– He is a 59-year-old captain from Primorsky, St. Petersburg, Russia, who is contesting the charges against him.

Evidence Presented

– Bridge Duties: Defence barrister James Leonard KC inquired whether Motin had left the bridge for any reason, such as using the restroom. Motin firmly stated, I never left the bridge at the material time from 08:00.
– Radar Systems: The court has reviewed how Motin utilized various radar systems to navigate the Solong on its course before the collision.
– Presence of Pernia: Captured within the proceedings, it was noted that Pernia had been performing engineering tasks on the bridge from 08:00 to 10:00 GMT, just before the vessels collided.
– Control Attempt: The captain informed police that he attempted to manually steer the ship when it was one mile (1.6 km) from the Stena Immaculate, but faced issues with the autopilot failing to disengage.

Ongoing Proceedings

The trial continues as further evidence is considered. Key highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire can be found on BBC Sounds, with additional coverage available through the BBC News app for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.

Tanker crash captain denies falling asleep