Captain denies falling asleep or leaving his post before crash

MAN DELAYED TAKING EVASIVE ACTION BECAUSE HE THOUGHT OIL TANKER WAS 'MOVING SLOWLY BUT UNPREDICTABLY'

- By MARK PAGE

Damage on the Stena Immaculate after the Solong crashed into it on March 10, 2025

(PA)

THE captain of a container ship that fatally crashed into an oil tanker in the North Sea has denied falling asleep or leaving his post.

Russian national Vladimir Motin, 59, was on sole watch duty when the Solong collided with the anchored Stena Immaculate near the Humber on March 10, last year, causing the death of 38-year-old Mark Angelo Pernia.

Giving evidence on Monday during a trial at the Old Bailey, Motin said he first became aware of the Stena Immaculate from between 10 and 12 nautical miles away.

Defence barrister James Leonard KC asked: “Did you fall asleep at any stage?” Motin denied this.

Mr Leonard asked: “Did you leave the bridge to go to the loo, have a comfort break?” Motin replied: “I never left the bridge at the material time from 8am.”