Search and Rescue Efforts Continue After Grigory Lovtsov Cargo Ship Capsizes Near Korsakov Port

Russian authorities have reported that three crew members were rescued, while four others remain missing after a small general cargo ship capsized near Korsakov port at the southern end of Sakhalin Island in the Far East.

The cargo ship, Grigory Lovtsov, was built in Japan in 2002 and has been operating under the Russian flag since 2010. It has a deadweight tonnage of 200 and measures 135 feet (41 meters) in length. At the time of the incident, the vessel was carrying a crew of seven and was reportedly transporting building materials.

The regional governor expressed concerns on Telegram, suggesting that the ship may have been overloaded. It was carrying sand and gravel, which authorities believe likely shifted, causing the vessel to lose stability on the afternoon of October 18.

As the ship capsized, three crew members were thrown into the sea. A search and rescue operation was initiated, successfully recovering the sailors, who were suffering from hypothermia. One of them was released from the hospital over the weekend, while another is reported to be in very serious condition. Unconfirmed reports from Interfax indicate that two bodies were later found during the search.

Governor Valery Limarenko stated on Telegram that crews managed to secure the overturned vessel, which is now being towed to shore. He mentioned that they would begin pumping it out to conduct a thorough investigation.

There are allegations that safety protocols may have been neglected. Officials noted that the ship had a previous incident in 2022 when it became trapped in ice off Sakhalin, necessitating the evacuation of the crew.