Moscow, Nov 28 (FN Agency) A cargo ship sailing under the flag of Belize was stranded on the shores of Russia’s Krasnodar Territory, in the city of Anapa, after a strong storm, with 21 crew members aboard, including Syrian, Indian, and Egyptian nationals, the Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport (Rosmorrechflot) said on Monday. “A strong storm washed ashore the Blue Shark cargo ship under the flag of Belize near the coast of Anapa, the village of Vityazevo… The vessel’s captain has said there are 21 crew members on board, nationals of Syria, India, and Egypt,” Rosmorrechflot said in a statement.
The cargo ship was in the seaport of Taman to load barley for Egypt before the incident, and after receiving a storm warning, it moved to anchorage, according to the main rescue coordination centre of the maritime rescue service (Morspassluzhba). The maritime service said the strong wind and waves dislodged the ship from its anchorage at about 11:00 p.m. Sunday (20:00 GMT Sunday), and the ship drifted toward the shore. Currently, the ship is on an even keel in the immediate vicinity of the shore, the service added. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations and maritime rescuers are developing a plan for an emergency rescue operation, the service said.