Russian cargo vessel firmly aground in Gulf of Finland

Damage to bow; crew lifted off to safety

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Wednesday’s attempts to free the Russian cargo vessel that has run aground in the Gulf of Finland proved unsuccessful. Late on Wednesday evening a third, larger, tugboat was seen approaching the scene.
      One rescue tugboat remained next to the freighter throughout the day observing the situation. In the afternoon another salvage tug, which had set off from St. Petersburg, also arrived at the scene.
      With it came scuba divers, who are to examine the damage to the ship's hull more closely and to plan the freeing and moving of the vessel.
     
“It is difficult to say by which time and through which measures the ship will be loosened”, said Lt. Jarmo Häkkinen of the Finnish Coast Guard.
      The cargo vessel has 37 tonnes of fuel aboard, but apparently none of it has leaked into the sea. The vessel is not double-hulled.
     
The ship has sustained damage to its bow, and water has entered into the bow maintenance space. On Wednesday there was no precise information available regarding the cause of the accident.
      The Russian Lotos river cargo vessel ran aground at a navigation beacon islet late on Tuesday night, ten nautical miles southwest of the island of Suursaari.
      The accident took place at a corner of the navigable passage in Russian territorial waters. The ship is currently listing at about ten degrees.
      All twelve Russian seamen on board were evacuated by a Finnish sea rescue helicopter. The sailors were taken to a coast guard station in Kotka, Finland, from where they were allowed to return to Russia on Wednesday.
      The ship's hold contains general cargo, including hospital supplies. None of the cargo is said to be hazardous.
     
Between 400 and 560 vessels sail in the Gulf of Finland on any given day. About ten ships run aground in the Gulf each year, but “close call” situations take place much more often.
      Last Thursday a tugboat barge ran aground west of the Hanko peninsula.
      On Saturday a Polish 137-metre freighter, the Inowroclaw, drifted to the shore of the Korkeasaari island, the home of the Helsinki Zoo.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  New safety evaluation study for Gulf of Finland (27.5.2008)
  Tanker runs aground in Gulf of Finland - major environmental disaster averted (12.2.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat