Maritime accidents can happen in a matter of seconds, but the consequences often last forever.
That’s exactly what unfolded in a devastating collision involving a cargo ship and an oil tanker — an incident that ended in loss of life and has now resulted in a lengthy prison sentence for the man in charge.
Container Ship Captain Sentenced After Deadly Crash
A Russian ship captain has been sentenced to six years in jail after his vessel slammed into an anchored oil tanker, triggering a massive explosion that killed a crew member.
The captain, Vladimir Motin, 59, was in charge of the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong when it crashed into the tanker Stena Immaculate on March 10 last year.
Fireball Explosion Kills Crewman Instantly
The collision caused a terrifying fireball that claimed the life of Mark Angelo Pernia, a 38-year-old Filipino crewman working at the front of the American tanker.
Tragically, he died instantly — and although the impact was fatal, his body was never recovered.
Victim Left Behind a Young Family
The heartbreaking loss was made even more painful by the fact that Pernia was a father.
At the time of the crash, he had a five-year-old child.
Even more devastating, his second child was born two months after his death, meaning he never got the chance to meet them.
Jury Convicts Motin of Gross Negligence Manslaughter
Motin was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence after a jury at the Old Bailey deliberated for around eight hours before reaching its verdict on Monday.
Prosecutors argued that Motin failed in one of the most basic responsibilities of a ship captain — keeping a proper watch.
Captain Claimed He Pressed the Wrong Button
During the trial, Motin insisted the crash was the result of a mistake in the final moments before impact.
He claimed that while trying to disengage autopilot and steer away from the tanker, he accidentally pressed the wrong button.
Judge Rejects His Story as “Highly Implausible”
When Motin returned to court for sentencing, Mr Justice Andrew Baker dismissed his explanation outright, calling it “highly implausible.”
The judge said Motin’s failure to keep a lookout was not a minor slip-up but a complete breakdown of duty over an extended period.
Court Says Captain Failed Completely in His Responsibility
Justice Baker described Motin’s account as deeply unreliable, even saying it was worse than the prosecution’s version of events.
The basic facts, the judge noted, suggested a ship that simply had no awareness of the vessel directly ahead — which was the most likely explanation for the collision.
“Inventive Distraction” and a Story That Fell Apart
The judge went further, accusing Motin of misleading the jury and attempting to distract from what truly happened.
He said Motin’s claims of confusion were lies that unravelled under scrutiny, calling his testimony an “exercise in inventive distraction.”
Sentencing Handed Down at the Old Bailey
Motin’s argument that he avoided an emergency crash stop because he feared damaging the tanker’s accommodation block was also dismissed as “desperate stuff.”
After making these findings, Mr Justice Baker handed down the six-year prison sentence at the Old Bailey on Thursday.
What’s Next?
This case now stands as a stark warning about the deadly consequences of negligence at sea.
With Motin jailed, attention may turn to wider questions about shipping safety, watchkeeping standards, and whether more regulations are needed to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
