The captain of a container ship involved in a fatal collision with a U.S. tanker attempted to avert the accident, according to his lawyer during a London trial. Vladimir Motin, a Russian citizen and captain of the Solong, was navigating the vessel when it struck the anchored Stena Immaculate in March 2025. His attorney claimed Motin tried to disengage autopilot just before the crash but was unsuccessful.
Motin, 59, is facing charges of gross negligence manslaughter related to the death of Solong crew member Mark Pernia, 38, whose body remains unrecovered. Despite acknowledging that the collision resulted in Pernia’s presumed death, Motin has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer, James Leonard, contended that while Motin had a responsibility to prevent the incident, the jury must determine whether his actions constituted gross negligence.
Leonard noted that Motin had been aware of the Stena Immaculate from the ship’s radar at least nine nautical miles away. As the Solong approached within one nautical mile of the tanker, Motin attempted to take manual control. Leonard emphasized that had Motin changed course earlier, the collision could have been avoided. Prosecutor Tom Little, however, argued that Motin took no effective measures to prevent the accident. The trial is anticipated to conclude next month.
