MV Omskiy-205

History
Russian
Name
  • Skif (1993–1999)
  • Carat (1999–2005)
  • Berill (2005–2006)
  • Omskiy-205 (2006– )
OwnerMarship
Port of registryRussia St. Petersburg, Russia
BuilderKrasnoyarsk Shipyard
Yard number255
Launched1993
Identification
General characteristics
Class and typeOmskiy type general cargo ship
Tonnage2,958 GT
Length113 m (370 ft 9 in)
Beam15 m (49 ft 3 in)
Draft3.3 m (10 ft 10 in)
Installed power1,030 kW (1,380 hp)
PropulsionDiesel
Speed10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph)
Crew12

MV Omskiy-205 (Russian: ОМСКИЙ-205) is a Russian Omskiy type general cargo ship launched in 1993 by Krasnoyarsk Shipyard. It was damaged while underway during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, possibly by a Russian mine.

Description

Omskiy-205 is a 2,958 GT general cargo ship which carries wood and logs. It is 113 m (370 ft 9 in) long with a beam of 15 m (49 ft 3 in) and a draft of 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in).[1] The ship has a single deck and four dry cargo holds, each of which are roughly 1,100 m2 (12,000 sq ft) large. It has two German-built diesel engines, each with a 515 kW (691 hp) power output for a maximum speed of 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph).[2] It has a crew of twelve sailors.[3]

History

Construction of the ship began in August 1985 under the yard number 255.[2] It was completed in 1993 by Krasnoyarsk Shipyard and given the name Skif. The ship was renamed to Carat in 1999, Berill in 2005, and finally Omskiy-205 in 2006.[1] Over the course of its career, the ship has been owned by the River and Sea Shipping Agency,[2] as well as the Moscow-based companies Marship and VVT Shipping.[1][3]

March 2022 incident

On 27 March 2022, Omskiy-205 was in transit from the port of Galluk in Istanbul to Rostov, Russia. Overnight, a distress call was issued while the ship was in the Black Sea, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) from Cape Takil near the Kerch Strait. The ship's captain reported that the hull had been breached, the engine room was flooded, and the ship hand lost power and was sinking. A tugboat was sent out and Omskiy-205 was taken under tow around seven hours after the distress call.[4] A rescue boat, the Rescuer Demidov, was also sent which operated three pumps in an attempt to control flooding aboard the ship.[5] None of the 12 crewmen were injured, and Omskiy-205 was taken into port and eventually anchored near the Kerch Bridge off Kavkaz.[3][4]

Following the incident, Russian media and Russian Maritime Authorities claimed that the hull breach was caused by strong waves and not by military action. However, because of the normal weather conditions and sea state at the time of the breach, it was suggested that Omskiy-205 had struck a friendly breakaway mine laid at the entrance to the Sea of Azov as a part of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[3][4][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Omskiy 205, General cargo vessel". Baltic Shipping. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Register of Ships. Extract: Coastal (River-Sea) and Inland Navigation Ships (PDF). Russian Maritime Register of Shipping. 2011. p. 66.
  3. ^ a b c d Dixon, Gary (29 March 2022). "Speculation grows after Russia says cargo ship hull breached by 'strong waves'". Trade Winds. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Voytenko, Mikhail (28 March 2022). "Russian cargo ship breached, flooded in Black sea. Mine, "friendly fire"?". Maritime News. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Russian Cargo Ship Issues SOS Taking on Water in the Black Sea". The Maritime Executive. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.