All Ukrainian crewmembers rescued from the Pacific vessel that suddenly sank off the coast of Gabon are in satisfactory condition and have been accommodated in a hotel in the city of Durban.
The press service of Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry reported this on Monday with reference to a spokesman from the P&I Associates (Pty) Ltd. insurance company, which is currently investigating the causes behind the accident.
According to the press service, Ukraine’s Embassy in the Republic of South Africa was unable to get into contact with the Ukrainian sailors, as they were testifying about the circumstances of the accident. Spokesmen for the ship’s owner are to soon announce the date when the Ukrainian crewmembers are able to return to Ukraine.
As was reported, the Pacific container vessel sank off the coast of Gabon on September 18, 2009. All the sailors were rescued by a Danish freighter. According to preliminary information, when the container vessel started to leak for an unknown reason, the crewmembers took to the ship’s lifeboat.
The Cypriot-flagged Pacific, built in 1998, was operated by German-based Werse Schiffahrts GmbH.
The case is under special control with Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry.
