Russian Ferry Collides with Ice Flows Off Sakhalin

A ferry, the Alexandr Deev, operating off the coast of Sakhalin, Russia, encountered difficulties after being damaged by ice floes. This incident left over 60 individuals aboard the vessel stranded.

Setting sail from Vanino towards its routine destination on Sakhalin, the ferry ran into trouble approximately 90 minutes post-departure due to issues with its steering gear. This malfunction left both passengers and crew members marooned amidst ice.

The ferry, capable of accommodating up to 200 individuals and transporting 28 vehicles, had 28 passengers and a crew of 35 onboard at the time of the incident.

Subsequent reports from the Far Eastern Transport Prosecutor's Office indicated that the ferry sustained significant damage after colliding with the ice floes, rendering it unable to proceed.

Constructed in 2023, the Alexandr Deev measures 131 meters in length and 20 meters in width. It features a hull reinforced for ice navigation, allowing it to traverse through ice up to 1.5 meters thick.

Currently, the immobilized ferry awaits assistance from the icebreaker Captain Khlebnikov, which is expected to forge a path through the ice, enabling the ferry to proceed under its own power. Following its extraction from the icy entrapment, the Alexandr Deev will head to Vanino. Upon arrival, the vessel will undergo a thorough inspection by the Transport Prosecutor's Office to evaluate its technical state and scrutinize the crew's response to the crisis.