Regional prosecutors probe into the bulker Aplha incident
Far Eastern Transport Prosecutor's Office has launched investigation into the incident with the stricken dry bulk carrier 'Alpha' in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), to check maritime safety requirements, the law enforcement office said.
On August 21, 2016, at 11:27 (GMT+3) the dry bulk carrier Alpha listed starboard while en route Port of Nakhodka to Chinese Port Taicang. The incident occurred in Eastern Sea, near the territorial waters of the Republic of Korea.
There were 15 crew members on board the stricken ship, Russia nationals. No injuries were reported to the sailors. The crew has been evacuated to a Korean Coast Guard ship.
Nakhodka transport prosecutor was charged to probe into compliance with maritime safety legislation by the ship.
IAA PortNews was informed by the Russian Transport Ministry's State Maritime Rescue Coordination Center that a notification was received at 13:30 (GMT3), August 21 from the MRCC Vladivostok that the Togo-flagged bulker "Alpha" (registered at Lome port, shipowner TRANSATLANTIC SHIPPING SERVICES LTD) carrying a cargo of 4,609,9 cbm of softwood sawlogs, at 11:40 got a dangerous 40 degrees list to starboard caused by the cargo shifting.
Currently, the ship is located in the Korea Strait (West Passage) 60 miles south of the Port of Busan (South Korea's rescue zone liability). The crew failed to straighten the ship. The ship's captain contacted the Republic of Korea Coast Guard for help to rescue the crew.
At 12:45 all of the crew members were successfully evacuated to a Coast Guard ship. The shipowner decides on the vessel towing to the Korean port of Masan.
