Russia launches criminal investigation into naval tug sinking in Saint Petersburg

The Investigative Committee of Russia has launched a criminal investigation into a tug sinking incident that occurred at a shipyard in Saint Petersburg earlier this month, local news outlet Izvestia reports.

The investigation into the August 8 capsizing and sinking of the Project 23470 icebreaking tug Kapitan Ushakov is being carried out as required by Article 216 of the Russian Criminal Code, which covers violation of safety procedures during construction activities.

The tug was undergoing final outfitting at the facilities of state-owned Baltic Shipyard when one of its compartments suffered water ingress, causing it to tilt heavily to starboard.

Although shipyard employees and emergency response personnel worked to stabilise the tug and keep it afloat, the vessel capsized and sank the following morning (local time).

The tug eventually settled to the seabed near the jetty where it had been undergoing outfitting.

An initial probe revealed that the water ingress that resulted in the capsizing had originated in the auxiliary engine room. The tug then gradually tilted as the flooding worsened.

Authorities estimate the damage caused by the incident to be around RUB1 billion (US$13 million).

Construction of Kapitan Ushakov began in 2017. The tug was previously scheduled to enter service with the Russian Navy at the end of last year.