A London court has sentenced Russian captain Vladimir Motin to six years in prison for gross negligence over a 2025 ship collision that killed Filipino crew member Mark Pernia, whose body was never found.
A judge at London’s Old Bailey said Motin, 59, was an “accident waiting to happen”.
He had switched off alarm systems onboard the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong shortly before it struck the anchored U.S. tanker Stena Immaculate on 10 March, 2025.
The tanker was carrying more than 220,000 barrels of aviation fuel when the collision occurred, triggering fires on both vessels and causing the death of Solong crewman Mark Pernia, 38.
Motin’s lawyer, James Leonard, told the court that Motin had tried but failed to take the Solong off autopilot to change course, arguing his actions did not amount to gross negligence. Jurors rejected that claim, convicting him earlier this week.
Prosecutor Tom Little read a statement from Pernia’s wife, who was seven months pregnant with their second child at the time of the crash. “Our longing for him will remain forever,” she said.
Prosecutors said earlier in the trial that the Solong had been on a collision course with the tanker for more than 30 minutes and that Motin did “absolutely nothing” to prevent impact.
The Solong's alarm system had been turned off and crews of the Stena Immaculate and the Solong received no warning of the collision.
Civil proceedings are ongoing. The Solong’s owner, a subsidiary of Ernst Russ, is facing a lawsuit at London’s High Court and has applied to have the case dismissed.
The company has said it set up a fund for potential claims and expressed its sympathies to Pernia’s family.
U.S. and Pakistani leaders forecast a Sunday signing of a long-elusive framework agreement to end fighting between the United States and Iran, as Reut...
Tajikistan has strengthened its position as one of Central Asia’s fastest-growing economies. According to the European Bank for Reconstruction and D...
The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 to close out the series 4-1 and claim their first NBA championship since 1973, sparking celeb...
In the runup to the G7 summit, hosted by France in Évian-les-Bains on Monday, 15 June, China has addressed global economic balances in a videoconfer...
Switzerland on Sunday rejected a referendum proposal to cap its population at 10 million, a projection showed, as voters prioritised economic stabilit...
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to publish the UK government's long-awaited Defence Investment Plan ahead of next month's NATO summit in Ankara, following growing pressure over the UK's military spending commitments.
As Britain's sanctions on three Georgia-registered companies made headlines on 26 May, the Georgian side of the story was already complicated. The National Bank of Georgia had flagged Arvix LLC, Rapira Group LLC and Aifory LLC to law enforcement back in September 2025.
Britain and Poland are set to sign a new defence and security treaty on Wednesday (27 May), deepening cooperation between the two NATO allies as European governments respond to what they describe as a growing range of hostile threats across the continent.
Georgia’s parliament speaker has accused Britain of “blatant hypocrisy” after London quietly allowed Russian-origin oil products into the country - a move UK officials had reportedly urged Tbilisi to avoid.
Pakistan has warned that any attempt by India to block or significantly reduce river flows under the Indus Waters Treaty could have “far-reaching consequences”, after India's water minister said New Delhi was working to ensure that “not a single drop” of water reaches Pakistan in the coming years.
SpaceX made a historic entrance into the Nasdaq on Friday, surging over 20% in its first day of trading and lifting its valuation to more than $2 trillion. Investors flocked to the world’s largest IPO, betting on Elon Musk’s sprawling empire spanning rockets, AI and beyond.
Armenia has every right to choose Europe. But Europe’s support for Armenia’s direction should not become automatic approval of its political process.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said a peace agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday in a post on social media, despite Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei saying no deal would be approved this weekend.
Japan’s birth rate and fertility levels have fallen to their lowest levels on record, highlighting the country’s worsening demographic crisis as fewer people marry and have children.
The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 to close out the series 4-1 and claim their first NBA championship since 1973, sparking celebrations across New York City.
In the runup to the G7 summit, hosted by France in Évian-les-Bains on Monday, 15 June, China has addressed global economic balances in a videoconference hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. It is a rarity for Beijing to engage directly with the group.
Switzerland on Sunday rejected a referendum proposal to cap its population at 10 million, a projection showed, as voters prioritised economic stability and the country's ties with the European Union over immigration concerns.
Romania's centrist President Nicușor Dan on Sunday designated Adrian Veștea, a member of the liberal party, as prime minister, after independent candidate Eugen Tomac withdrew.
North Korea said on Sunday, 14 June, that denuclearisation is a matter that is irreversibly terminated, in a condemnation of recent nuclear deterrence talks between the U.S. and South Korea.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment