Ships Collide During Icebreaking Operation, Damage Minor
Published: 22.02.2012 16:13
The EVA-316 is the workhorse of icebreaking operations in the Gulf of Riga.
( Photo: Pärnu Postimess/Scanpix )
Two ships collided during an icebreaking operation in the Gulf of Riga on the night of February 21 causing minor damage to both, the Maritime Authority has announced.
The incident, which took place near Kihnu, involved the Maritime Authority's multipurpose icebreaker EVA-316 and the Gibraltar-flagged M/S Lettland.
Because damage was minor, EVA-316 was able to return to its icebreaking duties while the Lettland, which sustained a 40x40 centimeter hole in its portside, continued to its voyage to Iggesund, Sweden.
The Maritime Authority said it was opening an investigation into the incident.
Quoting the Maritime Safety Act, the authority said that icebreaking is deemed a high-risk activity carried out by mutual agreement between the icebreaker and the master of the ship being assisted, and that ship owners are normally responsible for covering any damage to their own vessels.
On February 20, the authority reported that 11 calls for icebreaking assistance in Pärnu Bay and the Gulf of Riga were received during the week prior.
Steve Roman