PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, December 26 (Itar-Tass) —— The Ai Qi Shan dry cargo ship, which ran aground near the port of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky on September 2, cracked over a storm off Kamchatka, a source in the ministry of special programs of the government in the Kamchatka Territory told Itar-Tass on Monday.
The dry cargo ship in distress is in one nautical mile away from the Mayachny Cape in the Avacha Bay. The Rubin tugboat is heading to her in distress from the port. The rescuers should find the aftermaths of the accident in terms of the safety for the navigation, the source said.
The dry cargo ship, which is registered at the port of Phnom Penh and flying the colours of Cambodia, ran aground as a result of a navigation mistake. The dry cargo ship was carrying a crew of 21 Chinese citizens, 250 tonnes of fuel and 5,200 tonnes of building materials. No one was injured. People were evacuated on the shore.
The ship hull was damaged. About 100 kilograms of fuel leaked. The leakage was stopped quickly. Over 1,500 cubic meters of oil-containing waters were pumped out from the holds and tanks of the ship. The cargoes, holds and the engine room contaminated with oil products were processed with biosorbents.
The ship was staying aground at the accident site. According to preliminary reports, the ship broke into two over high waves.
The dry cargo ship belongs to the Chinese company Tong Yuan Shipping. The ship has a water displacement of 6,116 tonnes, is 109 meters long and 18.4 meters wide.