Authorities have identified the missing crew member from a cargo ship involved in a fatal collision in the North Sea as 38-year-old Filipino seafarer Mark Angelo Pernia.
According to an AFP report, the incident occurred when the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship Solong, commanded by Russian captain Vladimir Motin, crashed into the fuel-laden US-flagged tanker Stena Immaculate off the northeastern coast of the UK. Both vessels caught fire following the impact.
Despite extensive search efforts by HM Coastguard, Pernia remains missing and is now presumed dead, according to Humberside Police.
Motin, 59, was arrested and charged with gross negligence manslaughter. He appeared before magistrates in Hull on Saturday and was remanded in custody. He is set to appear at the Old Bailey in London on April 14.
Investigations led by UK authorities, with support from US and Portuguese teams, are ongoing to determine the cause of the collision. Officials have ruled out foul play at this stage.
