Captain of MV Solong cites steering confusion in deadly North Sea collision

The trial of MV Solong’s captain, Russian seafarer Vladimir Motin, has entered a tense phase at London’s Old Bailey, where he faces gross negligent manslaughter charges after the cargo ship collided with the anchored tanker Stena Immaculate near the Humber Estuary on March 10, 2025. The collision triggered a fire that engulfed both vessels, leaving one Filipino sailor missing and presumed dead, as reported by Safety4Sea .

 

Motin told the court that unexpected issues with the Solong’s steering controls contributed to the accident. He said new labels on the bridge buttons made it difficult to know whether the ship was in autopilot or manual mode, and a red sticker obscured an indicator light, creating confusion at a critical moment. According to The Maritime Telegraph , he admitted to panicking in the final moments before the collision.

 

The incident occurred in clear daylight with moderate visibility, but investigation documents revealed that neither vessel had a dedicated lookout on the bridge at the time. The Maritime Executive notes that prosecutors argue Motin should have taken evasive action earlier, pointing out that radar had shown the Stena Immaculate at several miles and that standard collision avoidance procedures were not followed.

 

Motin also described taking the bridge watch at 07:53 and having sailed this route many times, commanding the Solong on six‑month rotations since 2009. He mentioned that agents in Rotterdam had warned him days earlier about a steering fault on a sister ship, though he did not experience similar problems on his vessel.

 

On the day of the crash, the Stena Immaculate was at anchor carrying U.S. military jet fuel when the Solong struck it, rupturing tanks and igniting flames. Rescue efforts saved most of the crews, but intense fire prevented reaching the missing sailor.

 

The trial is expected to continue for several more weeks as the court examines technical evidence and human factors in what has become one of the most closely watched maritime accident cases in recent UK history.

 

Picture: PA Media via BBC