Arrested Russian captain of a cargo vessel involved in North Sea collision charged

British police announced on Friday that the Russian captain of a cargo ship involved in a collision with a U.S. oil tanker has been charged with manslaughter, following the disappearance and presumed death of a crew member. The investigation continues to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to Humberside Police, Vladimir Mokin, the captain of the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship "Sotland," is scheduled to appear in Hull Magistrates' Court on Saturday, charged with what is referred to in the British legal system as "gross negligence manslaughter." The specifics of Mokin's detention and whether he has obtained legal representation remain unclear at this time.

Humberside Police confirmed that the missing crew member is "now presumed dead" after an extensive search. Police stated that specially trained officers are providing support to the crew member's family. The UK Crown Prosecution Service identified the crew member presumed dead in the collision as 38-year-old Filipino national, Mark Angelo Penas.

Frank Ferguson, Head of Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division at the Crown Prosecution Service, stated, "We have authorised Humberside Police to charge a Russian national in connection with a collision between two vessels in the North Sea off the east coast of England." Ernst Russ, the shipping company that owns the "Sotland," had previously stated that the ship's 14 crew members consisted of Russian and Filipino nationals.

British authorities have stated that there is no indication to date that the incident is related to national security. The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch is also involved in the investigation to determine why the "Sotland," which was en route from Grangemouth, Scotland, to Rotterdam, Netherlands, struck the stationary oil tanker, which was anchored approximately 16 kilometers off the coast of England.

Port inspection documents reveal that the "Sotland" failed a steering-related safety inspection conducted in Dublin, Ireland, in July, with the ship's "emergency steering position communication/compass reading" being unreadable. Inspectors identified a total of 10 deficiencies, including "inadequate" alarms, a lifeboat that was "not properly maintained," and fire doors that were "not as required." Two additional deficiencies were identified during an inspection in Scotland in October. The ship was not detained after either inspection.