The search for a sailor who disappeared in the Kerch Strait early on February 2 from the Bulk Kremi 1, a barge flying the Russian flag, is continuing, the press service of the main territorial department of the Ukrainian Emergencies Ministry in Crimea reported on Sunday.
On February 2, at 1135, the Kerch city office of the Emergencies Ministry received a report from the maritime rescue coordination center that a sailor, born in 1984, disappeared at 0830 from the Bulk Kremi 1 barge in the Kerch Strait.
The barge, loaded with iron ore, is at a distance of 4-5 km from the shore. Fifteen people were on board the barge, including 14 crewmembers (13 Ukrainians and a Bulgarian) and a passenger – a Ukrainian citizen. The barge was not damaged, and its systems are operating smoothly. The ship’s captain did not send a distress signal.
A rescue motorboat and three tugboats were engaged in the search operation. The search work was suspended at 1700 on February 2 due to bad weather. The search produced no results. The search operation was resumed on February 3.
