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Japan tugs start towing Russian distressed trawler to Hakodate

The arrival at the port of Hakodate is expected on December 30 at 07:00, local time (02:00 MSK)

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

TOKYO, December 28 (Itar-Tass) — Japanese rescuers on Friday morning began the towing of the Russian trawler Alanet, distressed in the Pacific, to Hakodate port on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, the Japan Maritime Safety Agency told Itar-Tass.

According to forecasts of the Japanese rescuers, the arrival at the port of Hakodate is expected on December 30 at 07:00, local time (02:00 MSK).

The Russian trawler met with an emergency on Thursday, being in the Pacific Ocean in the area of Cape Erimo of the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The vessel’s main engine broke down, as a result the Alanet lost speed and began drifting in the stormy weather with four-metre-high waves and wind gusts of 15-18 metres per second.

The Vladivostok-based Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a distress signal from the trawler, but as the ship was in the area of ··responsibility of Japanese sea rescue services, the information about Alanet was passed to them. The Japanese Coast Guard sent two tugs to help the Russian fishermen. On Thursday night they approached the Alanet vessel and are currently getting ready to start towing.

The Alanet is owned by the Kamchatka-based company Kamchatrybprom. The vessel has a crew of 24.

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