Captain Sentenced to Six Years for Crew Member's Death in Maritime Collision
Vladimir Motin, a Russian national and captain of the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong, has been sentenced to six years in prison for causing the death of a crew member through gross negligence. The incident occurred on March 10, 2025, when the Solong collided with the Stena Immaculate tanker off the east coast of Britain. The tanker was anchored and carrying over 220,000 barrels of high-grade aviation fuel at the time. The collision resulted in a fire on both vessels and the death of Mark Pernia, a 38-year-old crew member from the Philippines, whose body was never recovered. During the trial at London's Old Bailey court, it was revealed that Motin had turned off the ship's alarm systems and failed to take the Solong off autopilot in time to avoid the crash. Despite his lawyer's argument that Motin was not grossly negligent, the court found him guilty, leading to his sentencing. 
