In a dramatic courtroom testimony, Vladimir Motin, a Russian captain, defended his decisions during a fatal collision with a US-registered oil tanker, which led to a deadly blaze. The incident, which took place last March near the Humber Estuary, claimed the life of 38-year-old crew member Mark Angelo Pernia aboard the Stena Immaculate. Motin, who has been charged with manslaughter, told the court that his priority during the crash was to protect the lives of the crew on the American tanker, rather than his own ship’s crew.
Decision to Avoid “Crash Stop” Explained
Motin, 59, was the sole officer on watch aboard the Solong when the collision occurred. The Russian captain testified that he decided against initiating a “crash stop,” fearing it would put the crew in the accommodation block of the Stena Immaculate in grave danger. He said, “I thought the distance to stop was not enough. I decided to continue as I was because it was more important to hit in a correct place than in the accommodation block, as there was no immediate risk to life.”
The Stena Immaculate, which was carrying more than 220,000 barrels of aviation fuel from Greece to the UK, had 23 crew members aboard. Motin claimed he was unaware of Mr. Pernia’s position on the bow of the Solong when the ships collided. He further explained that he had been focused on the ship’s movements, and had not raised an alarm or contacted the Stena Immaculate in advance. “I didn’t think about it at the time because I was concentrating on the vessel,” Motin added.
While under cross-examination, Motin acknowledged that he had failed to prevent the collision, admitting that he had not properly switched the ship from autopilot to manual. “I accept that I failed to change from autopilot to manual correctly,” he told the court. However, Motin emphasized that the vessel was technically sound, blaming human error for the mishap.
The accident occurred after Motin noticed the Stena Immaculate from a distance of 10 to 12 nautical miles. He initially delayed evasive action, believing the tanker was moving slowly and unpredictably. However, as the ships neared, Motin took the Solong off autopilot and attempted a 15-degree turn. Despite several attempts to steer the vessel, he noticed no response from the rudder. At that point, Motin feared the ship had lost rudder control entirely and tried to troubleshoot the issue by stopping and restarting the steering gear. Unfortunately, these efforts proved ineffective.
Motin was unaware that the collision would trigger a massive fire, and he later described the aftermath of the crash as a “disaster.” When evacuated to Grimsby, he messaged his wife via WhatsApp, saying, “I will be guilty.”
As the trial at the Old Bailey continues, Motin maintains his innocence, denying manslaughter charges. His defense is centered on the argument that his actions were aimed at minimizing the danger to others, despite the tragic loss of life. The jury will have to weigh Motin’s account against the evidence presented in the case, as the legal proceedings unfold.
