Accident probably happened to PF ship

22.03.2010
On March 21 Pacific Fleet (PF) command post received a distress signal from large reconnaissance ship Pribaltika deployed in Korea Strait westward of Japanese island Kyushu.

According to report of the ship commander, machinery compartment was flooded as a result of emergency water entry through outboard fittings. The engine died out so the ship was drifting to the north towards Tsushima Island.

At the direction of PF command, large ASW ship Admiral Vinogradov was dispatched to the accident site, reported media sources yesterday referring to Pacific Fleet HQ official. If the ship would sail at full speed, she could come to rescue Pribaltika at least tomorrow.

The ship's crew is 170 men. Reportedly, there are neither victims nor sufferers.

According to sources of online Maritime Bulletin – Sovfrakht, water entry was stopped as a result of damage control activities, although the crew failed to set the ship in motion. Russian Navy's official confuted information of the breakdown on March 21 having pointed out that the failure caused Pribaltika to anchor in Korea Strait had been eliminated by the crew and the ship proceeded to motion. PF press service reported on March 22 that Admiral Vinogradov had not been dispatched to rescue Pribaltika.

Large reconnaissance ship Pribaltika was launched on July 28, 1984. Her displacement is 4,600 tons; length is 105 meters; beam is 15.5 meters; speed is 20 knots; endurance is up to 60 days. The ship belongs to PF 38th reconnaissance ships division.

Source: RusNavy.com, photo: Pribaltika (hotstreams.narod.ru)