Storm hindering search effort on South Korean trawler's wreck site in Bering Sea
VLADIVOSTOK. Dec 18 (Interfax) - A storm in the Bering Sea continues to prevent the resumption of the search for missing crewmembers of the Oryong-501 South Korean trawler ship that sank off the coast of the Chukchi autonomous region.
"Weather patterns at the site of the wreck are still hindering the search. The number of rescued and dead sailors remains unchanged, seven and 25, respectively. Another 28 people are missing," the South Korean consul in Vladivostok told reporters in Anadyr on Thursday.
The reporters reminded the diplomat that it was the second incident involving South Korean vessels off the coast of the Chukchi autonomous region. The Oriental Angel trawler caught fire and ran aground in November 2011. The vessel has not been towed away in spite of repeated requests of the Chukchi region administration.
"Our government has decided to tighten requirements for fishing companies. Old vessels will have to be replaced. By the way, relevant subsidies will be provided," the consul said.
The South Korean fishing trawler the Oryong-501 sank in the Bering Sea, 117 miles off the coast of the Chukchi autonomous region, on December 1. It was carrying 60 people, citizens of South Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines and a Russian fisheries inspector. Seven people, among them the Russian inspector, were rescued.
Russian border guards said that South Korean vessels operating along the coast of the Russian Far East did not have enough wetsuits and rescue rafts for their crews in distress.