The trial of Vladimir Motin, the captain of the Portuguese container ship Solong, has commenced in London regarding a fatal collision with the Stena Immaculate tanker off the coast of Britain. British prosecutors argue that Motin did “absolutely nothing” to avert the collision, which occurred on March 10, 2025, while the Solong was en route to Rotterdam. The incident resulted in a fire affecting both vessels. The Solong was transporting alcohol and some hazardous materials, including unclean sodium cyanide containers, while the Stena Immaculate was anchored, carrying over 220,000 barrels of aviation fuel.
Prosecutor Tom Little stated that the crash, which led to the presumed death of 38-year-old crew member Mark Pernia, was completely avoidable. Jurors were shown footage capturing the incident and its aftermath, including significant fire and smoke. It was noted that Motin had been in a collision course with the Stena Immaculate for over 30 minutes before the impact, traveling at around 18 miles per hour.
Motin faces charges of gross negligence manslaughter and has pleaded not guilty. Little emphasized that he had failed in his duty of care towards Pernia, who was on board at the time. Notably, the ship’s alarm system was inactive, and there were no warnings issued to either crew regarding the imminent crash, undermining the safety protocols expected of the captain. The trial is expected to conclude next month.
