TUKAN – 1962 – IMO 6370380

IDNo: 6370380 – Year: 1962 – Name: TUKAN – Type: Trawler (Factory) – Flag: RUS – Date of completion: 19.9.62 – GRT: 2435 – DWT: 887 – Yard No: 7002 – Length overall: 79.8 – Ship Design: TROPIK – LPP: 71.0 – Country of build: DDR – Beam: 13.2 – Builder: Neptun VEB – Location of yard: Rostock – Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn): 1D-12.5

Subsequent History: [cpl by VEB Volkswerft, Stralsund #7002]

Disposal Data: foundered 57.18N/8.23E 28.2.67 (57*)

“Source : Miramar Ship Index, by arrangement”

On 28. February 1967 a huge disaster occurred off Hanstholm, Denmark. The Soviet vessel TUKAN was proceeding in a severe gale when her  stern hatches were breached by heavy seas, causing water ingress. At 0450 hrs. two adjacent compartments were flooded, and she foundered in icy waters with the tragic loss of 57 lives.

A number of Danish, Norwegian, Dutch and Swedish vessels took part in the ensuing SAR operation, during which the crew of the Soviet VILIS LACIS (IMO 6518229) managed to rescue 22 crew from the TUKAN, one of whom died aboard the trawler. Two fishing vessels from Hirtshals collected 36 bodies from the sea and brought them ashore at Hirtshals. Of the 57 deceased only 47 were found and brought to Hirtshals, from where the bodies of the seamen were later brought to Frederikshavn for their final voyage to Kaliningrad, the home of most of the deceased.

The repatriation of the 47 coffins was undertaken by the trawler P9091 ORIANDA under command of Captain Rudolf Morozov, and their bodies were interred during a ceremony in Kaliningrad, witnessed by most of the town’s population.

The Soviet Leader, Alexej Kosygin, expressed on behalf of the Soviet Government, on behalf of the next of kin to the deceased and their friends, as well as on his own, a heartfelt gratitude towards the the Danish Government, the crews on the ships which took part in the rescue operation, and in particular towards the people of Hirtshals and the local authorities, for the way in which the tragedy had been handled.

In his official letter to the Danish Government, he expressed himself in the following terms:

“The actions of the Danish seamen, the community of Hirtshals and other local towns, is an expression of deep human compassion, empathy and  comradeship, as well as an example in the highest tradition of solidarity between all the seamen in the world”

May 22nd, 2012  in Steel Hulled Fishing Vessels - T No Comments »

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.