Distress in the Tatarskiy Strait
The tug Alexandr Poyarkov was towing a barge from the port of Sakhalin, Rybnovsk to Sovietskaya Gavan. The vessels encountered rough weather when the Alexandr Poyarkov became disabled while in the Tatarskiy Strait. The tug’s propulsion shaft joint failed and the crew dropped anchor. The towline to the barge, which was unmanned and in ballast, was cut so that the tug could ride out until repairs could be made. However, the weather worsened with winds reaching up to 15 meters/sec and waves upto 2 meters. The tug sent out a distress signal which was received by MRCC Sakhalin. The MRCC directed a nearby 82 meter long, 1397 dwt tug AHST Neftegaz-70 to the Alexandr Poyarkov. The weather was too rough to allow the crew to be taken off the Poyarkov, but the Neftegaz-70 was able to take the tug under tow. The Neftegaz-70 towed the Alexandr Poyarkov to De-Kastri Bay as it was the nearest place of refuge. No reports of injuries. The fate of the barge was not included in the report.
