Russian captain Vladimir Motin jailed for six years after deadly tanker collision

A Russian ship's captain has been jailed for six years after his container vessel crashed into a US oil tanker in the North Sea last March, killing one crew member.

Vladimir Motin, 59, was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence at the Old Bailey on Monday.

The court heard his vessel, the Solong, struck the Stena Immaculate near the Humber Estuary. Both vessels were laden with flammable goods and were engulfed in the resulting blaze.

Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, who was working on the Solong's bow, died instantly in the fire, although his body was never recovered.

Prosecution: 'Exceptionally bad negligence'

During his trial, Motin told jurors he made a "mistake" and pressed the wrong button when he tried to take his ship out of autopilot. He claimed that efforts to restart the steering gear had no effect.

But the prosecution said Mr Pernia's death was the result of "truly, exceptionally bad negligence" and that Motin had lied about what happened, failed to summon help, slow down, sound the alarm or instigate a crash stop as a last resort.

During sentencing on Thursday, Mr Justice Andrew Baker described Motin's account as "extremely implausible" and "even worse" than the prosecution's version of events.

Judge: 'Accident waiting to happen'

He criticised Motin's "complacency and arrogance", describing him as "a serious accident waiting to happen".

He added that, during the trial, Motin was "a somewhat combative and argumentative individual, trying to argue his way out of a clear-cut case".

The jury had been told that data from the Solong's black box showed there had been no adjustments to the vessel's course or speed as disaster neared.

The prosecution said that the two vessels had been on a collision course for ‌more than 30 minutes. For 12 of those minutes, the Stena Immaculate would have been visible with the naked eye.

Dramatic CCTV footage captured the moment both ships were consumed in a massive blaze ignited by leaking fuel.

But even after the collision, a full minute elapsed before Motin was heard to react.

Jurors heard Motin had switched off a bridge navigation watch alert system (BNWAS), designed to ensure there is someone physically on the bridge and awake.

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Police: 'Tragic and unnecessary death'

A statement was read to the court from Mr Pernia's wife, which the judge said offered a "glimpse into the irreparable suffering caused, Captain Motin, by your gross negligence".

The judge added that Mr Pernia died while his wife was pregnant and never got to see his baby or be reunited with his other five-year-old daughter.

Outside the Old Bailey, Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson of Humberside Police, said Motin had "completely failed in this duty".

He told reporters: "This was a tragic and unnecessary death, and I hope that this outcome will act as a stark reminder of the responsibilities held by all those who operate at sea and that future tragedies can be prevented."

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