Russian captain faces charges after fatal collision with US tanker

A British court in London is hearing a case involving a collision between two ships in which a Filipino sailor lost his life. Prosecutors claim that Russian captain Vladimir Motin did nothing to prevent the accident, even though it could have been avoided.

The container ship Solong, which he was commanding, collided with the American tanker Stena Immaculate, which was anchored off the British coast, in March last year. The collision claimed the life of a member of the Solong crew, Mark Pernia, whose body has not yet been found.

According to the indictment, the ship was on a collision course for more than half an hour, but Motin, as the only officer on the bridge, did not intervene.

Prosecutor Tom Little called the death unnecessary and charged the captain with gross negligence resulting in death. Motin denies the charges.

(reuters, pir)