MS Solong Schiffahrtsgesellschaft mbH & Co KG and Another v Samskip Multimodal BV [2026] EWHC 1211 (Admlty) - King's Bench Division, Admiralty Court (Mr Justice Andrew Baker) - 22 May 2026

Admiralty - Limitation of liability - Collision - Owners seeking limitation decree - Defendants raising article 4 defence - Meaning of "such loss" - Whether Designated Person Ashore "directing mind and will" of shipowner - Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1996, article 4

At 09.46:57 on 10 March 2025 MV Solong, a small container ship, ploughed into the port side of the tanker MV Stena Immaculate while anchored off the Humber coast. Stena Immaculate was at the time laden with over 220,000 barrels of jet fuel. Solong was seemingly unaware of the risk ahead. A fireball ensued in which Able Seaman Pernia of Solong lost his life. Captain Motin was on 2 February 2026 convicted at the Old Bailey of gross negligence manslaughter, the evidence being that he neither slowed his vessel nor sounded any alarm.