A RUSSIAN container ship captain has been charged with manslaughter over a deadly fireball tanker crash.
Vladimir Motin appeared at Hull Magistrates’ Court charged with gross negligence manslaughter after two vessels smashed in the North Sea earlier this week.
Smoke rises from the MV Solong cargo ship in the North Sea, off the coast of Withernsea[/caption]
Russian national Vladimir Motin was captain of the Solong when it collided with the Stena Immaculate tanker[/caption]
The 59-year-old Russian national was in charge of a container ship called the Solong.
It crashed into a tanker carrying jet fuel on Monday about 12 miles off the East Yorkshire coast.
Filipino national, Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, was tragically killed in the collision.
A statement from Humberside 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.
“The captain of the Solong vessel, Vladimir Motin, 59 years old, of Primorsky, St Petersburg, Russia, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and been remanded in police custody to appear at Hull magistrates court tomorrow.
“On Monday, 10 March, Humberside police received a report at around 11am that a collision had occurred between the two vessels, resulting in one crew member being reported missing.
“Extensive searches were carried out by HM Coastguard to locate the missing crew member, now presumed deceased. The family are being supported by specialist trained officers and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.”
Meanwhile Chief coastguard, Paddy O’Callaghan, said on Friday both vessels were “stable”.
He said: “There are now only small periodic pockets of fire on the Solong which are not causing undue concern.
“Specialist tugs with firefighting capability remain at both vessels’ locations.
“Regular aerial surveillance flights continue to monitor the vessels and confirm that there continues to be no cause for concern from pollution from either the Stena Immaculate or from the Solong.”
