11.10.2010
Black Sea Fleet (BSF) ships – sea-going minesweeper Valentin Pikul and small ASW ship Yeisk – rendered assistance to distressed Abkhazian vessel Otab in Friday night, reported RIA Novosti citing a representative of BSF Information Support Group.
According to him, a real threat of sinking happened to small-size vessel
Otab in bad weather conditions near New Athos; the shipmaster call in aid to Russian naval mariners.
Upon receiving of distress signal and appraisal of situation, Novorossiysk Naval Base Commander RADM Alexander Turilin decided to render help to the distressed vessel. Two abovementioned BSF ships were dispatched to assist Abkhazian sailors.
The complement of
Otab was evacuated to Russian small ASW ship
Yeisk which crew spent a day controlling status of the Abkhazian ship in severe gale conditions, said the BSF official.
On Saturday, the sailors of
Otab assessed the ship's conditions and started the engine by themselves, thanked Russian servicemen for help, and continued their cruise.
