According to international news, a Chinese bulk carrier that was holed by ice off Russia’s Sakhalin island, sank. Last week, it was reported that the 33,600 dwt bulker was in the Tatar Strait drifting with other vessels in the ice flows while waiting to proceed to the port.
The vessel had been caught in the heavy ice flows since February 19 when it arrived in the area and late on February 23 issued a distress call saying it was taking on water. The 21 crewmembers abandoned ship onto the ice and were rescued by the Russian ferry Sakhalin 8 and taken to Vanino.
YONG XING 56 sank on Mar 1, salvors failed to salvage the ship, and she sank at at 253 meter depth. There were no injuries to the crew.
The 21 Chinese crew of the 15-year-old ship were safely evacuated from the ship with Chinese consular staff now working to get them repatriated.
The Komsomolsk-on-Amur Transport Investigation Department has begun an investigation looking for any violations of the rules for traffic safety and marine operations. At the same time, the Far Eastern Transport Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the implementation of safety legislation. They will also review the competence and timeliness of the rescue operation.
