Update: Troubled Russian Ship Reaches Southampton

Mekhanik Yartsev, a Russian cargo ship which developed a  significant list off Portsmouth, arrived at a Southampton dock in the afternoon hours of December 28.

HM Coastguard said that the 1990-built vessel, which had its own power, was assisted on the journey to the King George V Graving Dock by a pilot vessel, two tugs and escorted by an RNLI All Weather Lifeboat as a precautionary measure.

Mekhanik Yartsev started listing outside Portsmouth Harbour on December 26. Due to adverse weather conditions at the site on December 27, the plans to move the vessel were put on hold, forcing Mekhanik Yartsev to remain at anchor overnight.

The cargo removal operation was scheduled to be undertaken once the ship was safely alongside the dock.

HM Coastguard earlier informed that the ship lost 30 pieces of cargo during bad weather conditions some 20 miles south of the Worthing area on the south coast. The cargo packages, which were 3-4 cubic metres each, containing timber, were reported to have broken up resulting in individual planks floating on the surface.

Mekhanik Yartsev was en route from Riga, Latvia, to Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland, when it developed the list.

Image Courtesy: HM Coastguard