The search for 17 Russian fishermen is underway

The Russian anti-submarine Il-38 aircraft with underwater acoustic capabilities was deployed from the northern fleet for the search and rescue mission to recover the fishermen. Two of the 19 crew members were rescued by a nearby fishing vessel shortly after the accident.

“With regret and sadness, I learned of the tragedy in the Barents Sea, which claimed the lives of crew members,” Putin wrote to Governor Murmansk, where the ship was registered. “Please extend my deepest condolences to the families of the victims.”

The search for the fishermen was ongoing late Monday, although the Ministry of Emergencies said rescuers were battling 13-meter-high waves and air temperatures of minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit.

The country has significantly improved its safety record for navigable vessels in recent years, although accidents still occur regularly in the icy waters around Russia, most recently in 2018, when a fishing boat sank in the Sea of ​​Japan, killing all 20 crew members on board

The icy waters off the north coast of Russia are difficult for many ships to navigate due to ice and constant strong winds. Memories of sailors and fishermen lost at sea mark the north coast of the country.

Write to Thomas Grove at [email protected]

Corrections and amplifications
Russia’s Northern Fleet has sent Il-38 anti-submarine planes to search for missing fishermen. An earlier version of this article incorrectly referred to the Il-38 as a ship. (Corrected on December 28)