A Russian captain caused a deadly North Sea oil tanker collision, but the mistake he claims he made changes everything

A Russian container ship captain has been sentenced to six years in prison in the UK following a fatal collision in the North Sea that killed a crew member. As detailed by The Guardian, Vladimir Motin, 59, was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence after failing to keep a proper lookout while in command.

The collision occurred off the coast of Yorkshire when Motin’s 130-meter container ship, the Solong, struck the stationary oil tanker Stena Immaculate. The tanker was carrying more than 220,000 barrels of JetA1 aviation fuel, and the impact triggered a massive explosion and fire. This tragic news came alongside other headlines, such as recent coverage of two men who died after a routine flight that has been drawing attention.

Thirty-eight-year-old crew member Mark Angelo Pernia was killed instantly in the blast, and his body was never recovered. Pernia, a Filipino national, left behind his wife and a young child, and his second child was born two months after the incident.

The captain’s explanation only deepened the court’s concerns

Motin was alone on watch at the time of the crash on March 9, 2025, and denied falling asleep or leaving the bridge. He admitted, however, that he took no effective action to avoid the tanker and claimed that in the final moments, he attempted to disengage the autopilot but pressed the wrong control. Around the same time, there was coverage of Thomas Massie saying Trump attacked his wife in other news.

That explanation was rejected outright by the court. The judge described Motin’s account as “extremely problematic” and “extremely implausible,” adding that it was even less credible than the prosecution’s case that the ship was simply unaware of the tanker ahead for an extended period.

Prosecutors argued that Motin failed to maintain a proper lookout, did not sound any alarm, and did not call for assistance before impact. The Solong, weighing 7,852 gross tonnes, struck the tanker at approximately 15.2 knots, with CCTV footage showing both ships immediately engulfed in flames as fuel ignited.

Jurors also heard audio recordings from the tanker’s crew reacting moments after the collision, urgently shouting warnings and confirming a fire onboard. Nearly a full minute passed after the impact before Motin was heard responding from the bridge of the Solong.

During sentencing, Andrew Baker told Motin he had shown a blatant disregard for the high risk of death and described him as a serious accident waiting to happen. The judge concluded that Pernia’s death was wholly avoidable and that responsibility rested entirely with Motin.