Dry cargo vessels that are exempt from the ice in VKMSK, towed to Astrakhan. Freighters Patris  and Shizhnya come to Astrakhan to assess the technical condition of vessels after the exempting from the ice of the Volga-Caspian sea shipping channel (VKMSK), reports "Interfax-South" with reference to EMERCOM in the Astrakhan region.
M/V Patris will arrive in Astrakhan, accompanied by the icebreaker Kapitan Buka. M/V Shizhnya already moves to the city in tow. “In Astrakhan the experts will examine these vessels and evaluate their technical condition ", - said the press officer.

December 21, 2016 the cargo ship Shizhnya was released from the ice with the icebreaker Kapitan  Chechkin. The vessel is attributed to Astrakhan, with cargo of metal followed to Iran. The vessel was freezed in the ice on 51st km of the canal on 18 December.

Previously, the Iranian cargo ship Patris was released from the ice. The vessel followed from Astrakhan to the Iranian port Enzili with general cargo on board and also could not pass the canal. The vessel is carrying a crew of 11 people, no one was hurt.

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