AMURSKAYA

scrapped

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Missed Amurskaya crew could reach desolate island, still alive and hoping for rescue

Relatives of the crew of general cargo vessel Amurskaya, which sank in Okhotsk sea, presumably with all hands, appealed to authorities and media to start search and rescue operation on a Maly Shantar (Little Shantar) Island in Shantar Archipelago, south east Okhotsk sea. They sent to Maritime Bulletin photos of life saving equipment, including life jackets, which was found on the coastline of the island. Island’s area is some 100 sq. kilometers, island is uninhabited and covered by forest. Their appeal already reached the authorities, with absolutely no reaction except promise to collect the equipment for further check. No mentioning of the possibility of resuming search and rescue. Theoretically, people could still be alive and wait for rescue. Photos of the life saving equipment found on the island http://www.odin.tc/news/read.asp?articleID=1618

Object which could be a raft spotted at the coast of Shantar Islands

The crew of the "Rubin" on Nov 20 was inspecting the coastal areas of the Shantar Islands although weather conditions were preventing them from approaching the shore of an island to inspect an object which appeared to be a life raft. The crew would need a helicopter in order to land on the island.

Hull of Amurskaya could have been damaged before sinking

The hull of the "Amurskaya" could have been damaged during the loading of gold-bearing ore. Investigators believe the damage may have been done by the use of the high tide-low tide method. Meanwhile, the search for the missing crew still was continued until a powerful storm forced the BE-200 amphibious plane which was exploring the sea and coastal area of the Shantar Islands, and the "Rubin" to suspend the operation on Nov 19. Earlier the plane crew had spotted something that looked like a life raft, but then lost sight of it.