Russian cargo ship captain pleads not guilty in deadly North Sea tanker collision

Published connected 30/05/2025 - 16:55 GMT+2•Updated 17:05

The Russian skipper of a cargo alloy progressive successful a fatal collision pinch a US tanker successful nan North Sea has pleaded not blameworthy to a complaint of manslaughter successful beforehand of a UK court.

Vladimir Motin, 59, of St Petersburg, appeared via video nexus from custody astatine a pre-trial proceeding astatine London's Central Criminal Court. 

With nan assistance of an interpreter, he denied gross negligence manslaughter complete nan presumed decease of 38-year-old Filipino unit personnel Mark Angelo Pernia.

Motin was remanded successful custody, pinch a proceedings day scheduled for 12 January.

The collision occurred connected 10 March, erstwhile nan Portuguese-flagged cargo vessel Solong, travelling astatine astir 28 km/h, struck nan anchored US tanker MV Stena Immaculate astir 19 kilometres disconnected England’s northeast coast. 

The Stena Immaculate had been carrying pitchy substance intended for nan US military. The effect triggered a occurrence that burned for astir a week.

Thirty-six unit members from some vessels were rescued. Pernia remains missing and is presumed dead.

British authorities person stated location is nary grounds linking nan incident to immoderate nationalist information threat.

Although first fears of terrible biology harm person eased, thousands of integrative pellets, known arsenic nurdles, from ruptured containers aboard nan Solong person washed ashore on nan eastbound seashore of England. 

Conservation groups pass that while nurdles are not inherently toxic, they tin airs a threat to wildlife if ingested.