Russian captain charged after fatal tanker collision in North Sea
Russian national Vladimir Motin, the captain of the container ship that collided with an American tanker carrying jet fuel in the North Sea on Monday, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and gross negligence.
What do you need to know?
- The collision occurred in the North Sea, where the container ship Solong, operating under the Portuguese flag, struck the American tanker MV Stena Immaculate.
- As a result of the collision, one member of the Solong crew unfortunately died, while 36 other sailors were safely evacuated to shore.
- The accident caused fires and a jet fuel spill from the tanker; however, most of the fuel fortunately burned off, reducing the risk of an environmental catastrophe.
Rammed a tanker carrying jet fuel
The collision occurred on Monday when the container ship Solong, flying the Portuguese flag, struck the American-chartered MV Stena Immaculate, which was transporting jet engine fuel, at nearly full speed.
As a result of the collision, one member of the Solong crew died, and the remainder, consisting of Filipino and Russian nationals, were safely evacuated.
The captain has been charged
Vladimir Motin, the captain of the container ship, was detained and charged with involuntary manslaughter and gross negligence. Motin will remain in custody and appear in court on Saturday in Hull, in northern England.
The accident led to large fires, explosions, and a jet fuel leak into the sea, raising concerns about an ecological disaster. However, these concerns were alleviated when it was revealed that most of the fuel had burned off and no further leaks were detected.
Reuters highlights that the incident occurred amid heightened tensions between London and Moscow.
