Moscow, Dec. 28, (dpa/GNA) – A Russian fishing vessel in the far-northern Barents Sea sank on Monday, apparently due to being loaded down with ice, with 17 crew members assumed dead and two surviving.
The vessel, the Onega, registered in the Murmansk region, is believed to have capsized because of the ice accumulation, Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said in a statement.
Local media speculated that the vessel capsized while crew members were bringing a net on board with a catch, tipping the vessel to one side. Strong winds were also reported in the area.
The vessel was close to the Novaya Zemlya archipelago when it is believed to have sunk around 6 am (0300 GMT), the Emergency Situations Ministry said in its statement.
Two crew members were rescued by another fishing vessel, the Voikovo, the statement said.
“According to preliminary information, there were no survivors besides the two rescued sailors,” state news agency TASS reported.
GNA