The Russian captain of the container ship which crashed into a US oil tanker in the North Sea has been charged over the death of a crew member.
The Solong’s master Vladimir Motin (59), of Primorsky, St Petersburg, in Russia, will appear at Hull Magistrates’ Court in England on Saturday charged with gross negligence manslaughter, police said.
The Crown Prosecution Service said that Filipino national Mark Angelo Pernia (38) died following the collision between Motin’s vessel, the Solong, and the Stena Immaculate off the east coast of England.
Thirty-six people from both vessels made it ashore.
A statement from the force said: “An investigation by Humberside Police supported by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) into the collision between a tanker and a cargo vessel in the North Sea, off the coast of East Yorkshire, has resulted in a man being charged.”
Officers received reports at 11am on Monday that two vessels had collided and one crew member was missing.
Humberside Police said: “Extensive searches were carried out by HM Coastguard to locate the missing crew member, now presumed deceased.
“The family are being supported by specialist trained officers and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.”
Earlier on Friday the force confirmed magistrates had granted a further extension to the time detectives could hold the captain “due to the complexities of the incident”.
He had been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter on Monday evening, hours after the collision.
The UK's Crown Prosecution Service said: “The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
