Vladimir Motin, captain of the cargo ship Solong, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter following a deadly collision with the oil tanker Stena Immaculate in the North Sea. The 59-year-old Russian national remains in custody and is set to appear at Hull Magistrates’ Court, according to Humberside Police.

Read also: A Closer Look at Life on a Cargo Ship: 7 Realities

The Solong, sailing under a Portuguese flag, struck the anchored Stena Immaculate near the River Humber on March 12 while en route from Grangemouth to Rotterdam. The impact caused a fire on board, with thermal footage capturing the moment of collision.

Authorities have identified Solong crew member Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, from the Philippines, as missing and presumed dead. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is conducting a detailed inquiry, with preliminary reports indicating that the Solong had routinely navigated the same route before the crash. At the time of impact, the Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of aviation fuel.

Salvage crews from SMIT have boarded the tanker to assess the damage, while firefighting efforts on the Solong continue. Chief Coastguard Paddy O’Callaghan reported that only minor fires remain and aerial surveillance has detected no major pollution threats.

Meanwhile, the 23 American crew members aboard the Stena Immaculate remain in Grimsby and are expected to be repatriated soon. The investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing.