Corrected: Chance-101 was carrying 19 tonnes of crab, 643 tonnes of diesel fuel
(to correct name of ship from 'Chance-1' to 'Chance-101' in headline, para 1 of news item issued at 2.47 p.m. Moscow time)
MOSCOW. Jan 28 (Interfax) - The Chance-101 vessel, which has sunk in the Sea of Japan, was carrying 643 tonnes of diesel fuel, Alexander Savelyev, the head of Rosrybolovstvo's public relations center, told Interfax.
"Unfortunately, it has gotten into the sea," he said.
The vessel was also carrying crab and herring. "The vessel was a crab-fishing one and was carrying some 20 tonnes of herring as bait," the source said.
The fishermen had caught 19 tonnes of crab by the time of the accident.
According to earlier reports, the Chance-101 fishing vessel (Primorye Territory) crashed in the Sea of Japan not far from Svetloye village on Sunday evening. Of the 30 crew members, 15 were found alive (including 11 Russians and 4 Indonesians). The rescued sailors say eight of their colleagues have died and the fate of the other sailors remains unknown.
The rescue operation involves 130 people, 10 vessels, 4 aircraft, and 4 cars. The Mi-8 helicopter and the Emergency Situations Ministry's Be-200 plane left the area after sunset. Thirty people and four units of equipment are now being used to examine the coastline.
The rescue operation will resume after sunrise. Vessels remain in the crash area.
