Overloaded Cargo Ship Capsizes Off Russia’s Korsakov Port, Leaving 2 Dead & 2 Missing

A general cargo ship, Grigory Lovtsov, capsized in the port of Korsakov in the southern part of Russia’s Sakhalin Island, leaving two crew members dead and two others missing.

The vessel, which was carrying seven people, capsized on the afternoon of October 18 while delivering a load of building supplies, including sand and gravel.

Per local authorities, three crew members fell into the sea when the vessel lost stability.

Rescue operations were immediately launched, and the three sailors were rescued from the water, suffering from hypothermia. One has now been released from the hospital, while the other remains in critical condition.

The regional governor, Valery Limarenko, revealed via Telegram that the Grigory Lovtsov was most likely overloaded, causing the cargo to shift and the vessel to capsize.

He also stated that attempts were made to recover the ship, which had been secured and was being towed to shore for further investigation.

Interfax later claimed that the bodies of at least two of the four missing sailors had been found, though the search for the remaining crew members continues.

Photos from the scene show the vessel’s upturned hull, with the propeller and rudder visible above water.

The Grigory Lovtsov, built in Japan in 2002 and operating under the Russian flag since 2010, had a previous safety issue in 2022 when it was stuck in ice off Sakhalin, necessitating the evacuation of its crew.

Russian officials have initiated a probe into the latest incident, with allegations that safety guidelines may have been neglected.

Reference: The Moscow Times

Overloaded Cargo Ship Capsizes Off Russia’s Korsakov Port, Leaving 2 Dead & 2 Missing appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News