VLADIVOSTOK. February 15. VOSTOK-MEDIA – Fuel and food aid have been delivered to the Russian refrigerator vessel Snowmass, which had sent SOS signal from the Chinese port of Zhoushan, a spokesman for Seafarers' Union of Russia quoted captain of Snowmass Vladlen Derbenev as saying.

The vessel’s captain said all the 15 crewmen were accommodated in a hotel. The crew is keeping watch in 24 hour shifts. The sick cook of the refrigerator vessel is now in the hotel and attended by those crewmen who are off-watch.

Chinese officials said they would be able to decide what to do with the ship, which was detained by Chinese maritime authorities, only after the celebrations of the Lunar New Year. Chances are the Snowmass will be sold and the money raised will be used to help the crew return to Russia.

A spokesman for the Far Eastern branch of Seafarers' Union of Russia told Vostok-Media the refrigerator vessel, which is owned by Kaliningrad-based Smart company, arrived in China from Uruguay on Nov. 29. The vessel’s captain had to send SOS signal on Feb. 12, when the crew ran out of money, food and fuel. The hungry sailors, among which there were 3 sick crewmen, were demanding immediate repatriation to Russia because the living conditions on board the ship were almost intolerable. In addition, the crew was threatening to sink the ship.

The crew was left without electricity and heating and had to build a fire on the stern to warm themselves and to cook meals. Toilet facilities inside the ship went out of operation; there was no emergency lighting, according to the captain. The crew had to sleep in coveralls due to low temperatures inside the vessel.  

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