The U.S. Justice Department has indicted two foreign operators and a shoreside superintendent following the March 2024 collision of the cargo ship Dali, which destroyed Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and killed six construction workers. The incident caused $5 billion in damages and significant environmental harm, with charges including conspiracy and Clean Water Act violations.
Authorities in Vizhinjam, Kerala, have charged the captain of the Panama-flagged chemical tanker Solis after it collided with the Indian trawler St Joseph in the Arabian Sea. The incident resulted in significant damage to the trawler, which sank quickly. Nine crew members from St Joseph were rescued.
A Chinese ship captain, Wan Wenguo, has pleaded not guilty to charges of damaging crucial undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. Operating the container vessel NewNew Polar Bear, he faces serious allegations that his ship’s anchor caused considerable harm. The incident raises significant concerns regarding global communications and maritime safety regulations.
The trial of Vladimir Motin, captain of the Portuguese container ship Solong, has begun in London following a fatal collision with the Stena Immaculate. Prosecutors argue he did nothing to prevent the incident, which led to the presumed death of crew member Mark Pernia and significant fires aboard both vessels.
The captain of the container ship Single faced charges of gross negligence after colliding with an oil tanker, causing casualties. Vladimir Motin from St. Petersburg was blamed for the incident off East Yorkshire. The collision involved the Single and Stena Flawless, prompting an emergency response and loss of crew. Investigations are ongoing to determine the causes.
The German fishing vessel MFV Helen Mary faces seven charges under Irish Sea Fisheries laws following an inspection. Charges include illegal equipment and non-compliant management. Scheduled to appear in Cork court on April 28, 2025, the vessel’s history of legal issues highlights the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority’s commitment to sustainable fishing regulations.
