The Russian captain of a container ship that crashed into a US oil tanker in the North Sea has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter following the death of a crew member.
Vladimir Motin, 59, of Primorsky, St Petersburg, is due to appear at Hull Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, Humberside Police confirmed.
The Crown Prosecution Service said Filipino national Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, died after the collision between the Solong, and the Stena Immaculate off the east coast of Yorkshire. Thirty-six people from both vessels made it ashore.
In a statement, Humberside Police said: “An investigation by Humberside Police supported by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) into the collision between a tanker and a cargo vessel in the North Sea, off the coast of East Yorkshire, has resulted in a man being charged.”
Emergency services were alerted to the crash at 11am on Monday, with a crew member initially reported missing. Extensive searches were conducted by HM Coastguard, but the individual is now presumed dead.
“The family are being supported by specialist trained officers and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time,” police said.
Magistrates earlier granted an extension to hold Motin “due to the complexities of the incident.” He was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter on Monday evening, just hours after the collision.
The Stena Immaculate remains anchored at the site of the crash, around 12 miles off the East Yorkshire coast near Withernsea. The Solong has since drifted south and is now visible off the Lincolnshire coast.
Chief coastguard Paddy O’Callaghan said both vessels are “stable” and that salvors have boarded them to assess the damage.
“There are now only small periodic pockets of fire on the Solong which are not causing undue concern,” he said, adding that specialist tugs with firefighting capabilities remain on standby.
Aerial surveillance continues to monitor for pollution, and the UK Health Security Agency has assessed the public health risk on shore as “very low.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Thursday that the situation was “reasonably contained.”
Pressed on calls for a Cobra meeting to assess environmental risks, he said: “We are absolutely monitoring this 24/7 and I’ve got teams doing that and assuring me of what’s going on.
“At the moment, the situation is reasonably contained. And, obviously, we will do whatever is necessary.”
The CPS reminded the public that “criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active” and warned against any reporting or commentary that could prejudice the trial.
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