Russian captain was alone on bridge of North Sea crash ship
The Russian captain of a container ship that crashed into a tanker carrying jet fuel for the US military was alone on his ship's bridge, investigators said.
Vladimir Motin, 59, was the sole crew member on the bridge of the MV Solong when it crashed into the MV Stena Immaculate around five miles from Hull last month.
The allision – a crash between a moving ship and a stationary one – led to the presumed death of Mark Pernia, a Filipino sailor, who has been missing since the March 10 incident.
Millions of plastic beads, known as nurdles, were washed ashore in Norfolk after being released from a container aboard the Solong.
Both ships caught fire in the immediate aftermath, although only a small portion of the US-flagged Stena Immaculate's cargo of jet fuel, destined for the US Navy, was consumed in the blaze.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said in a preliminary report: 'The visibility in the area north of the Humber light float was reported to be patchy and varying between 0.25 nautical miles (nm) and 2.0nm.
'Neither Solong nor Stena Immaculate had a dedicated lookout on the bridge.
'At [7am], Solong's master returned to the bridge and took over the watch as the lone watchkeeper.'
A watchkeeper is responsible for the safe navigation of a vessel whereas the role of a lookout is to continuously watch the sea.
The crash, which happened at 9.47am, caused large fires on both vessels.
Solong was travelling at a speed of about 16 knots when it hit Stena Immaculate, the MAIB said.
The report described how the crews of both vessels took 'immediate action'.
Severe fire
It continued: 'Attempts by Stena Immaculate's crew to fight the fire, and for Solong's crew to locate the missing able seaman, were hampered by the severity of the fire.
'Both Stena Immaculate and Solong's crew abandoned to lifeboats and were subsequently recovered by the efforts of local boats and emergency responders, co-ordinated by His Majesty's Coastguard.'
The MAIB said its investigation will analyse 'the navigation and watchkeeping practices on board both vessels', and 'manning and fatigue management'.
A total of 36 people were rescued from the ships following the incident.
Captain Motin, of St Petersburg, has been charged with causing manslaughter by gross negligence after the presumed death of Mr Pernia, who was seen working in the bows of the Solong before the allision. The Russian is due to stand trial next January.
After the accident, the Solong was towed to Aberdeen, arriving on March 28.
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