Vladimir Motin, 59, from Primorsky, St Petersburg, appeared via video link at London’s Old Bailey Court for an hour-long bail hearing last Friday. He spoke briefly, only confirming his identity and date of birth through a Russian interpreter, and entered no plea. Motin was remanded in custody until his next preliminary hearing, scheduled for 14 April at the same court.
The charges relate to the collision on 10 March between Motin’s vessel, the Portuguese-registered container ship Solong, and the US-operated oil tanker Stena Immaculate. The incident occurred approximately 10.2 nautical miles off the Yorkshire coast at around 9:47am.
While all 23 crew aboard the tanker and 13 crew members from the Solong were safely rescued, one crewman, 38-year-old Mark Angelo Pernia from the Philippines, was tragically lost and remains unaccounted for. Pernia was reportedly working on the forward deck area of the Solong, close to where an explosion occurred following the impact.
According to earlier reports, the 140-metre-long Solong, carrying 157 containers, struck the anchored on her port side while travelling at around 15 knots. The 183-metre Stena Immaculate had anchored in that position the previous evening at approximately 6:50pm—some 15 hours before the collision—and was loaded with jet fuel.
During the court appearance, Motin was described as having short black hair, a slight beard and moustache, and wearing glasses and a grey T-shirt. He is married and has a daughter.
Maritime authorities are continuing their investigations, focusing on the circumstances leading to the incident and whether critical navigational protocols were observed.
Motin’s trial has been provisionally scheduled to begin on 12 January next year, pending further court hearings.
Boating New Zealand will continue following this developing story as it progresses through the legal process, including coverage of the preliminary hearing set for mid-April.
