The St Kitts and Nevis flagged vessel MV Volgo Balt 199, transporting coal from Russia to Turkey, sent a distress signal near Sile yesterday at 07:30 GMT before contact was lost. The vessel had a crew of 11 Ukrainians and a Russian on board. Turkey authorities have sent immediately to the scene a helicopter and salvage boats. Vessels in the area were asked to assist in Search and Rescue. Furthermore, another freighter located in the greater area of Bosporus, the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged MV BBC Adriatic with 14 crew on board, is being tossed about in heavy seas after suffering mechanical failure.
According to BBC reports MV Volgo Balt 199 sank in the Black Sea near the Turkish city of Istanbul. Three of twelve crew members that were reported missing have been saved from which one has died while nine are still searched after.
According to Voice of Russia three Turkish rescuers died on Tuesday while searching for the crew of the sunken Volgo-Balt 199. A fisherman who was trying to help the sunken ship’s crew also died.
Regarding the BBC Adriatic salvage tug and boats have been sent to the scene in order to assist the vessel to move to deeper waters.
Turkey’s Transport Minister Binali Yildirim stated that the rescue effort was operating in difficult conditions.
The severe storm which prevails in the area since late Monday has given winds of 80 kilometers per hour.
Update 1: 14 Dec. 2012
SeaNews Turkey posted yesterday a list of the seafarers onboard the sunken vessel MV Volgo Balt 199. The vessel had a crew of 11 Ukrainians and a Russian on board. The list with the names of the seafarers can be found HERE.
Source: The Voice of Russia, BBC, Maritime Bulletin, SeaNews Turkey
Officer of the Watch 
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