21.12.2009
EMERCOM experts and workers of Rosneft-Kubannefteprodukt will resume defueling of wrecked cargo vessel Aras-1 on Monday, informs RBK.
Defueling was suspended on Sunday. By that time specialists pumped out 19 tonnes of diesel fuel from the left shipboard via 60-meter hose, although could not access right board fuel tanks because the ship's hold is full of water. 59 men and 12 vehicles including three
MAZ trucks of
Rosneft-Kubannefteprodukt were involved in defueling process, said Tatiana Kobzarenko, press secretary of EMERCOM Krasnodar regional branch.
Moldavia-flagged vessel
Aras-1 with 4 Russians, 9 Ukrainians and 40 tonnes of diesel fuel was broken in two in the night of Dec 20 during force-five storm near outer harbor of Sochi port. Nobody suffered at the accident; crewmembers were rescued by three tugs of Sochi seaport. No oil spill was detected. One half of the ship was washed ashore Sochi's Primorsky Beach; another one remained at the sea. State of local emergency was declared around Primorskaya berth.
The cause of shipwreck was deterioration of the 30-year old vessel, said Nikolai Shustov, director of Sochi EMERCOM department. Preliminary inquiry of distress conditions is being presently conducted. Representatives of shipowning company
Transoptimal are expected to arrive at Sochi on Monday; jointly with EMERCOM experts they will seal fate of the cargo ship. Damage of the shipwreck was evaluated as $500,000, said shipowner's agent.
Aras-1 shipped sulfur and coal from Trabzon to Temriuk. By the time of the accident it was discharged.
Source: RusNavy.com, photo: Aras-1 (vesti.ru)
