Captain Convicted: Tanker Collision Tragedy

The captain of a container ship, Vladimir Motin, was sentenced to six years in prison for causing a fatal collision with a U.S. tanker off Britain's coast. The crash resulted in the death of crew member Mark Pernia. Motin's negligence was criticized in court after the deadly incident.

In a dramatic court hearing on Thursday, Vladimir Motin, the captain of a container ship involved in a fatal maritime collision, was sentenced to six years in prison. The accident occurred last year off Britain's east coast and resulted in the tragic death of a crew member.

Motin, a Russian national, captained the Portuguese-flagged Solong, which collided with the anchored Stena Immaculate tanker carrying over 220,000 barrels of aviation fuel. The collision triggered a blaze on both vessels and led to the death of Philippine crew member Mark Pernia, whose body remains missing.

Despite defense arguments that the incident did not constitute gross negligence, Judge Andrew Baker ruled against Motin after damning evidence showed he had deactivated vital alarm systems. The verdict laid heavy emphasis on the widow's grief, further highlighting the judgment's impact.

(With inputs from agencies.)