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Photo: Trawler Ametist.
In the nearest days a Pacific Fleet (PF) warship will search trawler Ametist lost early in Feb in the Sea of Okhotsk, reported RIA Novosti referring to a representative of regional administration.
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Pacific Fleet dispatches a warship to search lost trawler Ametist
17.05.2011
The vessel belonging to Kamchatka Fishery Institute carried out commercial crabbing in the Sea of Okhotsk. As of the last radio contact on Feb 11, the vessel was expecting for bunkerage. There were 23 crewmembers on board Ametist.
"One of PF warships currently stationed in the Sea of Okhotsk will head for the trawler's search area in the nearest days. Sea bed in supposed shipwreck zone will be explored by special equipment", said the interviewee. Active search was conducted during one month since Feb 12. About 200 sq km of the Sea of Okhotsk and adjacent Kamchatka coast were checked. During the search operation rescuers found two life rafts from Ametist and eight crab trap buoys. No crewmen were detected so far. After the active phase was over, all ships working in that part of the Sea of Okhotsk carry out by-the-way search. Relatives of the Ametist crewmembers still hope for seeing them alive; in March they started fund-raising campaign to continue search operation.
Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Iliukhin addressed a letter to Konstantin Sidenko, Eastern Military District Commander asking to use a Pacific Fleet rescue ship in search operation. Iliukhin's request was met. PF command allowed several relatives of Ametist crewmen to attend the search on board the ship.
Trawler Ametist lost in the Sea of Okhotsk on Feb 11. Helicopters, aircrafts, and fishing vessels worked in the region were involved and managed to find two inflatable life rafts and eight crab trap buoys throughout the search activities. Since March 1 active search was suspended, although 4 additional helicopter flights and coastal search activities were arranged at request of the crewmen's relatives.
Regional administration and a ship-owning company have already paid RUR 325,000 material aid to families of Ametist sailors. If crewmembers are recognized dead, each of their family will receive RUR 550,000 insurance compensation.
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