Missing Russian Gold Ship Found at Bottom of the Sea, Crew Still Unaccounted For
Divers have located the missing Russian cargo ship that sank two weeks ago off the Pacific coast while heading to the port of Okhotsk.
AMURSKAYA, which was carrying 700 tons of gold ore, had been missing since the end of October. The freighter virtually disappeared after sending a final distress call from the Sea of Okhotsk.
Unfortunately, its 11 (some reports claim 9) crewmembers remain unaccounted for. The vessel was discovered in 230 feet of water. Its unknown how much gold the ore might have contained.
According to Zee News, the Russian Transport Ministry confirmed the finding in an official statement saying that following improved weather conditions, rescuers located “a submerged object on sonar, the rescue ship Rubin moored over the object. The object was confirmed as the Amurskaya."
A search inside the sunken ship has not yet been made. Russian rescue authorities say they must first ensure a search inside te vessel is safe for divers.
Yesterday it was reported that local authorities had filed criminal charges against the ship's owner, who also is director of the Nikolaevsk-on-Amur port, where the ship is registered, for allegedly instructing the ship to sail despite bad weather and improper cargo procedures.
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