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The Russian captain of a container ship involved in a collision with a US oil tanker off the Yorkshire coast has appeared in court. Vladimir Motin, 59, has entered a plea of not guilty at
the Old Bailey to the manslaughter of a crew member. His Solong vessel collided with the Stena Immaculate on March 10. Filipino crew member Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, was not found after there
was an explosion in the forward deck of the Solong where he was working. Meanwhile, 23 people on the tanker were rescued, along with 13 crew from on the Solong. A previous hearing was told
that the crash took place 10.2 nautical miles from the coast. The Solong, which was 140 metres long, was carrying over 150 containers. The 183 metre-long Stena Immaculate was carrying jet
fuel. Solong was travelling at around 15 knots when it crashed with the Stena Immaculate. The oil tanker had been anchored for around 15 hours before the collision. Motin, of Primorsky in St
Petersburg, appeared at the Old Bailey by video link from HMP Hull on Friday morning. He pleaded not guilty to manslaughter by gross negligence with a further hearing set to be held on
September 10. The 59-year-old's trial will then take place on January 12 next year. A previous hearing at the Old Bailey on April 14 was adjourned due to the absence of an interpreter
to help the Russian defendant. Small fires continued on Solong for days after the crash. Meanwhile, burnt plastic pellets also washed up along the east coast of the UK in the aftermath.
Solong was then towed to Aberdeen for damage assessment following the collision. It arrived at around 7.15am on March 28. Ernst Russ, the owners of the cargo vessel, said: "We are very
aware of the efforts and assistance from all those acting in the response. We want to thank everyone who has responded urgently and gallantly to this incident." _GET ALL THE LATEST AND
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