North Sea tanker crash explosion shown in court

Stuart HarrattEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

The Solong cargo ship crashed into the Stena Immaculate on 10 March

EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock An aerial view as smoke comes out from the MV Solong cargo ship in the North Sea, off the Yorkshire coast. Two smaller boats can be seen either side of the ship. — The Solong cargo ship crashed into the Stena Immaculate on 10 March

A court has seen the moment a cargo ship crashed into an oil tanker in the North Sea, triggering an explosion and killing a crew member.

Vladimir Motin was in charge of the Solong when it collided with the Stena Immaculate off the East Yorkshire coast on 10 March, leaving Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, missing presumed dead.

The jury at the Old Bailey was played a CCTV recording from the bridge of the tanker showing the Solong hitting the tanker’s left-hand side.

Motin, from Primorsky in St Petersburg, Russia, denies gross negligence manslaughter.

Vladimir Motin was the captain of the Solong cargo ship, which crashed into an oil tanker in the North Sea

Humberside Police / Reuters Police custody picture of Vladimir Motin. He has short dark hair with a parting and is wearing glasses. He is staring into the camera against a grey wall. — Vladimir Motin was the captain of the Solong cargo ship, which crashed into an oil tanker in the North Sea

Video from a nearby ship was also shown which captured the explosion on a thermal camera, as well as phone footage captured by a Solong crew member showing flames engulfing the ships.

Audio from the bridge of both vessels was also played to the jury.

In the aftermath of the collision, Motin was heard talking on the radio with the Coastguard.

“I collided with tanker. There is fire bay two,” the captain said.

“One man is missing. We are abandoning the ship.”

Solong crew member Mark Angelo Pernia is missing, presumed dead, after the collision

PA Media Solong crew member Mark Angelo Pernia. He is wearing red overhauls and has a black walkie talkie attached to his collar. He has short dark hair in a parting and looking out beyond the camera. — Solong crew member Mark Angelo Pernia is missing, presumed dead, after the collision

The Portuguese-flagged Solong had been making its way south from the Scottish port of Grangemouth to Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

The prosecution has alleged Motin “did absolutely nothing to avoid the collision” despite the Stella Immaculate being visible on the radar and other electronic systems, and from the bridge, where the captain was alone on watch duty.

The court heard Motin told police he tried to take manual control of the ship’s steering when it was one mile (1.6km) away from the Stella Immaculate, but the autopilot did not disengage.

Defence barrister James Leonard KC told jurors they had to identify “what is in issue with the case”.

“No doubt that the collision caused the sad death of Mark Pernia,” Leonard said.

“No doubt he [Motin] was at fault,” the lawyer said, adding the jury needed to decide “the nature and extent of that fault”.

The trial continues.

Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices.

North Sea tanker crash explosion shown in court

Bywihadmin

By wihadmin

Related Post

Fostering information events for new East Riding carers looking to take the first step in 2026

‘Communication is not a luxury, it’s a necessity’ – Work with deaf community in Hull and the East Riding exposes barriers to NHS access

Search is on for healthcare heroes nominated by patients and visitors