The M/V Avak-1, a Panama-flagged dry bulker carrier broke down in the Sea of Azov, while en route Port of Kerch-Rostov-on-Don. The incident occurred at about 31 nm off the east of Berdyansk in Zaporozhsky region, the News of Kharkov reports citing Ukraine’s MOE.
According to Ministry of Emergencies, the stricken cargo ship has a breach on her hull, there is no communication with the ship so far, the 12 crew are waiting on the ice.
The Ministry officials said that currently a Mi-8 helicopter, ACV "Mars-700," an icebreaker from the port of Mariupol and the icebreaker "Kapitan Demidov" (Russia, the port of Taman) are involved in the rescue operation.