Russia has dismissed media speculation that a general cargo ship’s hull was breached by a mine in the Black Sea.
Authorities have instead said “strong waves” created a small hole in the side of the Russian-owned, 3,100-dwt Omskiy-205 (built 1993).
The HTC website cites Russia’s Coast Guard of the Border Directorate of the Federal Security Service as saying the vessel, with 12 seafarers on board, had got into distress southwest of the Kerch Strait on 27 March.
The captain had reported the ship was sinking and needed help.
The Coast Guard then launched a rescue operation with a border patrol ship — the Balaklava — that arrived at the scene in less than an hour.
The rescue vessel — the Rescuer Demidov — then approached and started pumping seawater from the engine room.
No pollution was reported.
Russian news agency Tass issued a report saying that there were no injuries and that the hole was not caused by military action.
The vessel is listed in shipping databases as owned by VVT Shipping in Moscow.
But the company told TradeWinds that the vessel has been sold and is no longer under its control.
No port state control detentions for 20 years
Clarksons lists the American Club as the provider of insurance cover.
The vessel has not been detained following a port-state-control inspection since 2002.
The incident came after Turkish government divers reported they had disabled a naval mine that was found adrift in the Black Sea.
Reuters cited the defence ministry as saying the device was discovered by fishermen near the entrance to the Bosphorus.
The Omskiy-205 was en route from Gulluk in Turkey, and is now anchored off Kavkaz in Russia.
