Video: Russian Research Vessel Sinks In Novorossiysk

A Russian research vessel, Ashamba, sank in the port of Novorossiysk after heavy icing caused it to lose stability.

The vessel, owned by the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, went down at the yacht club 7 Feet on February 22.

Despite continuous efforts by the crew and institute staff to prevent icing, they were unable to stop the vessel from capsizing and sinking.

There were no reported injuries or casualties from the incident. The vessel had approximately 200 litres of diesel fuel on board, but no oil spills have been detected so far.

The owner has deployed containment booms around the site to prevent any environmental damage. Officials have stated that there is no immediate threat of pollution in the area.

The Ashamba has been moored at Novorossiysk for the winter after completing its 2024 research expeditions. However, starting February 17, weather conditions deteriorated significantly, with strong northeastern winds and temperatures dropping to -7°C.

The well-known bora windstorm, common in the region, intensified the icing on the vessel, making it unstable.

The crew, along with staff from the Southern Branch of the Institute of Oceanology attempted to remove the ice manually using improvised tools.

A round-the-clock watch was maintained on board to chip away the accumulating ice.

Video Credits: Морской Архитектор Мищенко/YouTube

However, by the morning of February 22, the situation had worsened, and the vessel tilted to one side before sinking completely.

Authorities have launched investigations into the incident. The Novorossiysk Transport Prosecutor’s office is examining whether maritime regulations were followed, while the Russian Investigative Committee’s transport division has also initiated its inquiry.

Efforts to recover the vessel will begin once weather conditions improve. The plan includes raising the Ashamba, towing it to the port of Gelendzhik, and conducting a thorough inspection to assess the necessary repairs.

The Ashamba was built in 1979 at the Primorsko-Akhtarsk shipyard under the Krasnodar Fishermen’s Collective Farm Union. It is a small research vessel, measuring 15 meters in length, 4 meters in width, and with a draft of up to 1.5 meters.

The vessel was primarily used for monitoring the coastal zones of the northeastern Black Sea, working in depths of up to 1,700 meters. It typically operated within a 12-mile range from the shore, with a crew of two and space for up to eight scientists.

This is not the vessel’s first accident. In 2021, the Ashamba ran aground off the coast of Gelendzhik, suffering hull damage. Repairs were carried out then, allowing the vessel to continue operations for another four years.

In a separate incident, the freighter Pavel Grabovskiy remains stranded near the port of Azov after suffering a hull breach on February 16. The 46-year-old vessel began taking on water while sailing in the Sea of Azov, and tugboats were sent to assist.

Russian authorities have stated that the situation is stable, but Ukrainian sources claim that local officials refuse to grant the vessel a port of refuge.

Petro Andryushchenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for the Study of Occupation, suggested that the problem might be more serious than reported. He said that repairs at sea are far more difficult than in port, yet the vessel has not been allowed to dock.

References: Kuban, kommersant

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