Navy Ship Deployed for Search Operations of Missing Russian Fishing Vessel Crew

Dispatch of 1 Aegis Destroyer and 1 High-Speed Patrol Boat

The Republic of Korea Navy is conducting search and rescue operations for missing persons following a fire on a Russian-flagged fishing vessel.

Our Navy's Aegis destroyer Sejong the Great, along with seven surface ships including new frigates, patrol ships, and guided missile fast attack crafts, participated, as well as submarines, P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, and Lynx maritime operation helicopters. (Photo by Navy)

On the 21st, the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "We received information regarding the fire on a Russian-flagged fishing vessel that occurred in the East Sea off the coast of Ulsan early this morning, and dispatched naval ships nearby to the accident site."

The vessels dispatched to the accident site include one Aegis destroyer that was operating near the East Coast and one patrol boat on standby in Busan, totaling two ships. The ships are expected to continue search operations through the day.

Earlier, 21 Russian crew members were rescued and 4 went missing due to the fire on the Russian-flagged fishing vessel off the coast of Ulsan. According to the Ulsan Coast Guard, at approximately 00:43 on the same day, a fire broke out on the 769-ton Russian fishing vessel A, with 25 crew members aboard, located 28 nautical miles (51.8 km) southeast of Gori, Ulju-gun, Ulsan.

All 25 crew members are Russian nationals. The Coast Guard, with support from Air Force flare illumination, has mobilized additional naval vessels and patrol boats to search for the missing persons and continues firefighting efforts on the vessel.

Vessel A departed Busan Port around 3 p.m. on the 20th, carrying 100 tons of seafood, en route to Russia when the fire broke out off the coast of Ulsan. A Coast Guard official stated, "Among the 21 rescued, two sustained minor burns and are receiving emergency treatment on a patrol vessel, while the remaining 19 have been confirmed to be in good health."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.