The Russian captain of a cargo vessel involved in a fatal collision with a US tanker in the North Sea has pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter in front of a UK court on Friday.
Vladimir Motin, 59, of St Petersburg, appeared via video link from custody at a pre-trial hearing at London’s Central Criminal Court.
With the assistance of an interpreter, he denied gross negligence manslaughter over the presumed death of 38-year-old Filipino crew member Mark Angelo Pernia.
Motin was remanded in custody, with a trial date scheduled for 12 January.
The collision occurred on 10 March, when the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship Solong, travelling at approximately 28 km/h, struck the anchored US tanker MV Stena Immaculate roughly 19 kilometres off England’s northeast coast.
The Stena Immaculate had been carrying jet fuel intended for the US military. The impact triggered a fire that burned for nearly a week.
Thirty-six crew members from both vessels were rescued. Pernia remains missing and is presumed dead.
British authorities have stated there is no evidence linking the incident to any national security threat.
Although initial fears of severe environmental damage have eased, thousands of plastic pellets — known as nurdles — from ruptured containers aboard the Solong have washed ashore along the east coast of England.
Conservation groups warn that while nurdles are not inherently toxic, they can pose a danger to wildlife if ingested.
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