Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

  According to the Information from the executive agency “Maritime Administration, after 63 hours of work, the motor ship “Katia Z” was released from the ice field near the port “Portovik” from two towboats. This happened at 10pm yesterday, on January 5, 2006.

Immediately after the release, the crew made an examination of the solidity of the vessel. Corps, main engine and subsidiary mechanisms have been checked. Afterward the ship has been prepared to continue its route with the help of two towboats and has sailed away to the Kerch Strait.

The crew is in a good health and maintains a permanent radio communication with the ports in the Sea of Azov.

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To remind that Motor Ship “Katia Z” ran aground close to port Primorsk on January 28th Saturday, at 5pm local time.

The ship navigates under the flag of the Caribbean state Saint Vincent and Grenadine and is hired from the firma “Varna Shipping and Trading”. The Crew consists of 14 Bulgarian and 4 Ukraine sailors. Captain of the ship is k.p.d. Jancho Nikolov.

The ship sailed away at midnight on January 22, 2006 from port Berdianks to port Burgas. On his way it failed into ice field and ran aground.

For additional information:
Vera Deianova, Press Centre,
Ministry of Transport
Phone: 940 95 34
E-Mail: vdeianova@mt.government.bg