Senior Associate James Broomhall has provided comment in the Financial Times on the news that Vladimir Motin, the Russian captain of the Solong ship, has been found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence after the North Sea collision that occurred in March 2025.

Commenting on the sentencing implications following the Court’s decision, James said: “At sentencing the court will look at both aggravating and mitigating factors. Aggravating factors are likely to include the disabling of safety systems, the speed of the vessel, and the catastrophic risk created by a collision between two heavily laden ships.

“Mitigation may include the absence of previous convictions, the fact this was a single incident rather than a pattern of conduct, the pressures of sole watchkeeping, and the personal consequences already faced by the captain.”

James continued, highlighting: “The court will also take into account the period the defendant has already spent on remand in custody, which must be credited against any custodial sentence ultimately imposed. Time spent on remand is treated as time served and can have a real impact on the length of any further imprisonment.”

James’ comments were published both online and in print in the Financial Times, 2 February 2026.