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RF Investigation Committee probes into Captain Kuznetsov disappearance

According to investigators, the ship’s emergency buoy activated at 03:50 a.m. Moscow time

MOSCOW, November 15 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia’s Investigation Committee has launched a pre-investigation check into situation around the Captain Kuznetsov dry cargo ship which has been lost in the White Sea, a committee spokesman told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

According to Vladimir Markin, the circumstances of the accident are being studies. Investigators from the north-western transport administration of the Russian Investigations Committee are working in the port of Arkhangelsk.

According to investigators, the ship’s emergency buoy activated at 03:50 a.m. Moscow time. The ship was en route from the port of Yara-Yakha to Arkhangelsk to be anchored for the winter period. Radio contact with the ship was lost an hour later.

According to preliminary information, there were eleven persons onboard the ship. Local rescuers so far cannot launch a search and rescue operation as long as navigation is suspended in the port of Arkhangelsk because of the bad weather. When the weather is favourable enough, a plane and a helicopter of the local emergencies service will join the operation. The Vladislav Strizhov ship is searching the area of distress signals.