Thursday, October 23, 2014

Russian ship adrift once again

19 October 2014 Last updated at 02:03 A Canadian Coast Guard helicopter flies near a Russian container ship The Simushir’s captain was rescued by helicopter A Russian container ship is adrift once again off the Canadian coast after its line connected to a tow ship became detached.

The Simushir, which is disabled without power, is carrying hundreds of tonnes of fuel and was at risk of running aground when it was closer to shore.

However a coastguard spokesman said the vessel was now far away from the shore and did not pose that risk.

The Russia-bound ship left Washington and lost power on Friday morning.

The Canadian Coast Guard had attached a tow line to the vessel as it was drifting in rough seas off British Columbia.

Efforts to reattach the line to the tugboat are under way, according to the Royal Canadian Navy.

It had originally been feared that the ship might hit Haida Gwaii, also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands.

A Canadian Coast Guard helicopter flies near a Russian container ship

The Canadian coastguards ship the Gordon Reid arrived late on Friday and the tugboat arrived on Saturday to tow the Simushir to Prince Rupert, British Colombia.

The ship had a crew of 11, and after it lost power on Friday the captain was rescued by helicopter.


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Russian ship adrift once again