Crews of two vessels stuck in ice off Sakhalin are evacuated

19.01.2010 Source: RIA Novosti, photo: Sakhalin Island (2003.novayagazeta.ru)

Being assisted by helicopters, rescuers managed to evacuate 14 crewmen from two fishing seiners stuck in ice at Terpeniya bay off Sakhalin six days ago, reports RIA Novosti citing official of Russian EMERCOM, Sakhalin branch.

Seiners MRS-150-314 and MRS-150-299 sailed to fish salmon trout at northern part of Terpeniya bay, offshore strip area of Poronaisk region, central Sakhalin. Last Thursday seiners got into ice hole; captains decided to wait motionlessly till morning. However, the north wind had changed its direction for northeast; at 02.00 am the ships found themselves in ice captivity. Rescue vessel Atlas and tug Pacific Endeavor were dispatched to help seiners, although could not approach them due to complicated ice situation.

"At 11.55 am local time (04.55 am Moscow time) the first group of sailors was evacuated; the second one – at 00.20 pm local time (05.20 Moscow time). SR operation has been successfully completed, survivors do not need medical aid", said the interviewee.

According to him, rescued crewmembers are currently carried to shipowner's base, and then they will return home.

Both vessels (home port Kholmsk) belong to Sakhalin company Forvater Ltd. Length of each ship is 19.7 meters, beam is 6 meters, deadweight is 104 tonnes, engine output is 150 hp.