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Uncontrolled ice-trapped ship drifting on Yenisei

Five crewmembers and one passenger were evacuated by a helicopter

KRASNOYARSK, October 30 (Itar-Tass) — A motor ship is drifting on the Yenisei River in the Krasnoyarsk Territory.

The vessel is trapped in ice and is drifting downstream. The five crewmembers and one passenger were evacuated by a helicopter.

The ship belongs to a person who accepted an order to transport a cargo to the north, but did not take into consideration the weather conditions and the shipping period.

The vessel was caught in ice near the village of Baklanikha, 1,130 km away from the river outfall, deputy Yenisei transport prosecutor Maxim Yuzhakov told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

The crew gave distress signals, but no vessels could help them, as shipping work is over on the line.

According to experienced specialists, the ship has low chances not to be damaged by ice and not to sink.

Environmentalists are concerned over Yenisei pollution, since the vessel has fuel and oil aboard.

The ship owner takes action to settle the situation, Yuzhakov said.

According to the unconfirmed information, other two ships belonging to the private company Niks were also in the difficult situation. The vessels were trapped in ice on the river up from the city of Igarka, but were taken to a backwater area where they will remain for the winter.