The Russian captain of a container ship involved in a North Sea crash has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of a crew member.
Vladimir Motin, master of the Solong, is charged over the death of crew member Mark Angelo Pernia, 38.
Motin pleaded not guilty to manslaughter by gross negligence as he appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday.
A previous hearing at the same court on 14 April was adjourned because of the absence of a Russian interpreter to assist the 59-year-old defendant.
Motin’s vessel was involved in a collision with the American tanker Stena Immaculate off the coast of Yorkshire on 10 March.
All 23 people on the tanker were rescued, along with 13 crew from the Solong, but Mr Pernia could not be located.
The Filipino was working in the forward deck of the Solong, in an area where there was an explosion.
The collision happened 10.2 nautical miles from the coast, a previous hearing was told.
The 140m-long Portuguese-registered Solon was carrying around 157 containers, while the 183m-long Stena Immaculate was carrying jet fuel.
The Stena Immaculate anchored at the point of collision around 15 hours before the impact and the Solong was travelling at around 15 knots when it hit the other vessel’s port side.
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A further hearing will be held on 10 September ahead of the defendant’s trial on 12 January next year.
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