Mystery Surrounds Reports of Cargo Ship in Distress in Sea of Azov

Russian authorities are denying media reports that another one of the decrepit fleet of ancient cargo ships operating on the Sea of Azov is in distress. The media is saying the vessel was taking on water while the authorities insist the vessel was in port and repaired.

The general cargo ship Pavel Grabovsky, built in 1979, loaded a cargo of 3,000 tons of corn and departed Rostov-on-Don bound for Turkey.  After passing the city of Azov, the vessel reportedly encountered ice and was damaged on February 16 without issuing a distress call.

The media indicated the vessel struck ice and the crew was attempting to contr…