Cover image: ©Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Authorities have charged Vladimir Motin, captain of the cargo ship Solong, with gross negligence manslaughter following its collision with the oil tanker Stena Immaculate in the North Sea.
Motin, 59, from St Petersburg, Russia, remains in custody and is due to appear at Hull Magistrates’ Court, according to Humberside Police, the BBC reported.
The Solong, sailing under the Portuguese flag, struck the anchored Stena Immaculate near the River Humber on 12 March while en route from Grangemouth to Rotterdam.
The collision triggered a fire on board, with thermal footage capturing the moment of impact.
According to the BBC, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has named Solong crew member Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, from the Philippines, as missing and presumed dead.
READ: Oil tanker and cargo ship on fire after North Sea collision
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is examining the circumstances surrounding the crash. According to initial findings, the Solong had frequently travelled the same route before it struck the Stena Immaculate, which was carrying 220,000 barrels of aviation fuel at the time, reported the BBC.
SMIT Salvage teams have boarded the tanker to assess the damage, while firefighting efforts on the Solong have continued.
Chief Coastguard Paddy O’Callaghan stated that only small fires remain on the Solong and that aerial surveillance has found no significant pollution risks.
According to the BBC, the 23 American crew members of the Stena Immaculate remain in Grimsby and are expected to be repatriated soon.
