What Crew Members Say About Grigoriy-Bugrov

On October 23, 2011, Moscow's Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) reported a successful operation to refloat the tanker Grigoriy Bugrov, which had sunk in the Caspian Sea with 6,000 metric tons of heavy fuel oil onboard. The vessel, which foundered in shallow waters, was stabilized after five significant holes along its portside were sealed, ranging from the bow to the engine room. Fortunately, no substantial oil spill occurred during the incident. Currently, the Grigoriy Bugrov is on an even keel as the discharge of its cargo is underway. The decision to off-load the cargo before towing the tanker to safety was deemed the most effective and safest course of action. The vessel had collided with an uncharted underwater object, which later turned out to be a sunken ship measuring 50 meters in length, complete with a crane located in its midsection. The Grigoriy Bugrov's position is currently marked at 44°29′N 48°12′E. The Russian Ministry of Transport noted that the tanker ran aground outside the recommended navigation path, in an area designated for Navy firing exercises, and speculated that the submerged vessel might belong to the Navy. However, the Russian Navy has categorically denied this claim, leaving the ownership of the sunken vessel and the status of its charting status uncertain. Meanwhile, the owner of the Grigoriy Bugrov, Oil Marine Group Co., is facing financial difficulties concerning the salvage operations. Images of the distressed tanker can be found on the Maritime Bulletin website at http://www.odin.tc.

The partially submerged tanker 'Grigoriy Bugrov' is on track to be towed to the Volga-Caspian Canal and subsequently to the port of Astrakhan after it is successfully raised. Currently, the vessel is encircled by oil-containment booms as divers conduct thorough inspections. The regional EMERCOM in Dagestan, Russia, has established an operational headquarters to oversee the ongoing rescue and salvage mission. This operation involves 11 units of specialized equipment and a dedicated team of 131 rescuers, all working diligently to address the situation.

As of October 15, the m/t Grigoriy Bugrov remains in a precarious position, partially submerged at coordinates 44°28'N 48°12'E, approximately 37 nautical miles northeast of Chechen Island and close to the entrance of the Volga – Caspian Sea Canal. Despite the vessel's troubling state, reports indicate minimal leakage. Divers have been unable to identify any visible damage to the hull; instead, it appears that the breach may be located on the bottom side, particularly within the engine room area, where the damage seems to be sealed by sediment. Efforts to salvage the vessel are currently in full swing, with all available resources and salvage vessels deployed to assist in the recovery operation. Rescuers and relevant authorities are constructing a detailed, hourly schedule for the salvage process, although specifics of the recovery strategy have not been disclosed. Remarkably, there is a promising possibility for the tanker to be refloated. What led to this incident, however, raises significant interest. The m/t Grigoriy Bugrov reportedly collided with an uncharted and unidentified submerged object, subsequently veering off its designated path into a military training area belonging to the Russian Navy, as noted by the Russian Ministry of Transport. The Navy has yet to comment on the occurrence, leaving many questions unanswered. For further insights and a comprehensive photo gallery, visit Maritime Bulletin at http://www.odin.tc/news/read.asp?articleID=61.