Reefer Tavria stuck in ice off Kamchatka reached open water

15.02.2010 Source: RIA Novosti, photo: the Bering Sea (onlinefast.org)

Transport reefer Tavria stuck in ice at the Bering Sea off Kamchatka coast reached open water area in Monday night, reports RIA Novosti referring to press secretary of EMERCOM Kamchatka Branch.

"The vessel is expected to get free of ice in the nearest hours", said the interviewee.

Tavria was blocked in ice last Wednesday at Litke Strait 25 km off Ossora settlement, Karaginsky district. The reefer was drifting along with ice floe at approx 0.4 knots. The vessel is not squeezed by ice; 15-men crew is safe and full of water, food and fuel resource; shipmaster has not asked for help.

Rescue vessel is ready at the port of Petropavlovsk; if needed, food and water supplies will be delivered to the reefer by helicopter.

Transport reefer Tavria has length of 50 meters and displacement of 1,200 tons; the ship is registered at the port of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski. The reefer was built in 1988; shipowner is Velest Ltd.