The Old Bailey court in London is hearing the case of Russian seafarer Vladimir Motin, captain of the containership Solong, which collided with the anchored fuel tanker Stena Immaculate on March 10, 2025 near the Humber Estuary. The collision sparked a fire from ruptured jet fuel tanks, engulfing both vessels and leaving one Filipino crew member missing and presumed dead. Motin faces charges of gross negligent manslaughter over the fatal accident. During the proceedings, he told the court that steering control problems contributed to the deadly accident.
Experts have testified that the Stena Immaculate was visible on radar at nine miles and by sight at three miles. According to the reports, Motin waited until one mile before attempting to turn the Solong, with experts stating he should have acted sooner to avoid the collision. Earlier testimony also revealed that the vessel’s radar was set to a 9-mile range and that the Bridge Navigation Watch Alert System (BNWAS), which requires periodic resets to ensure an active bridge watch, had been turned off.
On January 22, Motin took the stand to present his account. He stated he had assumed the watch at 07:53 in daylight and that visibility was three miles, countering claims of spotty fog. He emphasized that he was the only person on the bridge, navigating the vessel alone, and was comfortable on a solo watch, having done so many times previously. Motin has been a seafarer since 1985, and has commanded the Solong since 2009 on six-month rotations. He was familiar with the route, having sailed it multiple times previously with the vessel.
Motin also described a conversation with company agents in Rotterdam days before the incident, who had warned him that a sister ship, Samskip Express, had experienced a sudden steering problem. That vessel reportedly suffered a rudder blockage without alarms, and the agents advised that such issues could be managed by restarting the steering gear. Motin stated he had not experienced any similar problem on the Solong.
He noted that new stickers had been placed on the bridge controls, including autopilot and manual steering buttons, which he found confusing. A red sticker covered a red light that indicated whether a button was on or off, adding to his difficulty in operating the controls. Motin said that as the Solong approached the Stena Immaculate, he believed the steering gear was not responding to his commands despite thinking he had disengaged the autopilot. He admitted to feeling confused and panicking in the final moments before the collision.
The court heard that the crew of the Solong attempted to reach the crew member caught in the fire on the bow, but the intense flames from the ruptured fuel tanks made rescue impossible. Motin denies charges of gross negligent manslaughter.
The trial is ongoing and is expected to continue for several weeks.
