Shipwreck Log

The 85 meter long, 1753 ton fishing boat 501 Oryong sank in the Bering Sea off the Chukotka Peninsula, Russia.  The 501 Oryong had departed from Busan with 62 persons on board in July to fish in the Bering Sea.  On December 1, the vessel was fishing pollock in stormy seas with waves reaching 5 to 6 meters in sub zero temperatures. As the crew pulled in nets, the 501 Oryong was struck by a large wave.  The surge of water flooded the fishing boat’s storage areas causing the vessel to list. The master of the 501 Oryong sent out a distress call and ordered the crew to abandon ship.  Five nearby fishing vessels responded to the scene.  The trawler Carolina rescued five crew while  the Zaliv Zabiyaka pulled another two men from the water.  Another person was recovered, but later died from hypothermia. Reports state the remaining crew remains missing.  The 501 Oryong was last reported at 62 17.05N 177 47.26E, but the vessel was stated to sink in Anadyr Bay.  One of the survivors was reported to be a Russian inspector.