Investigating bodies of the Far Eastern Transport Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee have initiated a criminal case over disappearance in the Sea of Okhotsk near Shantar Islands a dry cargo vessel Amurskaya. The case was initiated over signs of a crime under part 3 of article 263 of the RF Criminal Code (violation of rules for safe traffic and operation of sea transport entailing by negligence death of two or more persons).
According to preliminary data, on 28 October 2012 dry cargo ship Amurskaya (home port – Nikolayevsk-on-Amur, ship owner – OAO Nikolayevsky-on-Amur seaport (OJSC)) was travelling en route subsidiary port Kiran – port Okhotsk with a cargo of gold ore. There were 9 crew members aboard. On the same day in the morning an alarm radio buoy of the ship went off.
The search and rescue operations gave no results. Investigators consider the following the main versions of the incident: violation of rules for sea navigation made by crew members; operating the ship notwithstanding stormy weather in the area of navigation; technical failure of the dry cargo ship.
For the moment it is known that the ship set off from subsidiary port Kiran without permission of relevant services and the minimum number of crew members was violated. According to preliminary data the dry cargo ship was transporting 700-750 tons of gold ore which exceeds capacity of the ship of 611 tins. In addition, investigators have established that the dry cargo ship was not fit to transport bulk cargoes and was not certified to transport raw materials.
Investigators will inquire into all circumstances of organization of the ship’s setting off, the technical state of the ship will be checked, strict legal treatment will be given to actions of persons responsible for safe navigating. Investigation is to be continued.
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