HOME PILOTAGE Board of Directors EMPA charter contacts deep sea pilotage EMPA Journal EMPA shop last EMPA GM next EMPA GM EMPAS' EU-policy events maritime careers links member countries private recommendations research & development status of pilots the secretary general the secretary (admin.)

webmaster

Fatal Accident in the Sea of Azov

 

EMPA received the following report from the Ukrainian pilots:

  
 

 

  
 
Dear Sirs
' think we have to inform you
 

Bulgarian-flagged MV “Vanessa” capsized in the Sea of Azov with Ukrainian pilot on board 03.01.2008.

Cargo vessel Vanessa sunk at 02.00 on the 3rd of January 2008 during a storm in Azov Sea when underway from Berdyansk to Varna 20 miles from Kerch-Yenikale channel entrance buoy. Vessel was built in 1974.

10 crew members disembarked probably into 3 life rafts together with our pilot. Weather was very rough: waves up to 4 meters, wind up to 25-30 m/s, visibility 200-500 m. and temperature lower than -10 degrees.

In few hours only 4 mariners were found. One of them, Bulgarian crew member, was found heavily frost-bitten but alive due to thermal protective suit protection. Other 3 crew members were died.

The fate of 6 crew members and our pilot is still unknown. Other 2 life rafts were found partly sunk, not manned. Today all SAR operations by helicopter, vessels and shore staff were suspended. No more sailors were found. Sea is covered by broken ice now.

So,

Datchenko Volodymyr

Secretary of USPA

 
     
 

Three dead as ship sinks

David Osler - Friday 4 January 2008, Lloydslist

AT LEAST three seafarers are dead following the sinking of a small Bulgarian-flagged general cargoship in the Sea of Azov yesterday, with a further seven still missing, writes David Osler.

The 1974-built, 3,129 dwt Vanessa had a record of multiple detentions and casualties, according to the database of Lloyd’s MIU, a sister company of Lloyd’s List.

It finally went down near the narrow Kerch Strait leading to the Black Sea, where around a dozen vessels were sunk or damaged in a storm last November, prompting allegations that many ships had ignored bad weather warnings.

Laden with around 3,000 tonnes of steel, Vanessa had been heading from Berdyansk in Ukraine to either Varna or Burgas in Bulgaria, according to conflicting reports. Ten Bulgarians and a Ukrainian pilot were thought to be on board.

The Ukrainian-crewed cargoship Tegusigalpa arrived at the scene around two hours later, but waves exceeding 3 m hindered the search. One of the engine personnel, a Bulgarian, was rescued after swimming for a reported six hours.

The RIA news agency, citing a Russian official, said: “Four bodies have been recovered. A fifth man is alive but suffering from frostbite.” A Russian helicopter and ship were continuing rescue efforts.

  
 
Daily News, 03 Jan 2008, Fairplay International

Ten feared lost in new Azov sinking

BERDYANSK 3 January – Two crew are dead and eight are missing after a Bulgarian general cargo ship sank in the Sea of Azov this morning. One man has been rescued after the Vanessa sank in three-metre waves as it headed towards the Kerch Strait bound for Bourgas after loading scrap metal at Berdyansk. The ship sent a distress signal at 0211 this morning local time, but a tug sent to the scene found that it had already sunk. A rescue vessel found two bodies and one severely frostbitten survivor before being forced to return to port as a fresh storm approached. “The rescue ship is coated with ice. It's heading for port Kavkaz with one frostbitten sailor on board. Two helicopters are searching for the missing men," regional ministry spokesman Aleksandr Polenov told Russia Today. "The rescued sailor says he saw four of his fellow crew members on a life raft," he added. There were ten Bulgarian crew and a Ukrainian pilot aboard. Eight seafarers died in November when a storm wrecked four ships in the area.