Fishing schooner sinks in Russian Far East

The Victoria fishing schooner foundered in Primorye (Maritime) territory's coastal waters in the early hours of January 4th. Six people were reportedly staying aboard. According to the Far Eastern center of Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry, the tragedy happened opposite Chikachev island in Olga bay; the unfortunate schooner sank half a mile offshore.

The schooner appeared on the radar screen of the Omsky-121 ship serving with the Amur shipping company until 8.00 a.m. local time, subsequently vanishing at 8.10 a.m. However, the schooner didn't send out any distress signals whatsoever because she apparently lacked a radio station.

The Omsky-121's watch officers saw six people in wet suits jump off the schooner. The ship then moved toward the disaster site, with its crew subsequently picking up the body of one dead man, who died of exposure. He didn't have any documents.

According to preliminary reports, the schooner's bow section became covered with ice, eventually causing the ship to lose her stability. The Victoria keeled over, going down some time later.

The Vladivostok-based high-seas rescue-operation coordinating center ordered all ships staying in Olga bay to start looking for other missing fishermen. Meanwhile the authorities are trying to find out, who owned the schooner.