The Russian rescue and salvage ship “Murmanryba” is on its 70 day long inspection mission toward the Barents Sea and Svalbard zone. The ship leaves the port of Murmansk on Wednesday March 4. It is informed that the inspectors will check on trawlers’ technical condition and that fisheries legislation is followed.Normally the Federal Fishery Agency hires trawlers to be used during inspections in the Barents Sea, but this time a rescue and salvage ship fits the mission better.
According to the information the ship will have two inspection groups on board – one will control that fishery legislation is being followed while the other will inspect the trawlers’ technical condition, TV21 reports. It is reported that 2009 begins with a tragedy for Murmansk fishers when the trawler ‘Topaz-A’ took in water and sank outside Bear Island in the Barents Sea.
This tragedy took the life of the boat’s captain. The Head of the Federal Fishery Agency’s territorial administration for the Barents Sea and White Sea, Valentin Balashov, said that the investigations after the accident show that ship-owners neglect safety in their pursuit for profit. It is told that ‘Topaz-A’ had previously to the accident been repaired without any technical overhauling before it left port.
