Port authorities of Sri Lanka have disconnected the Russian research vessel «Akademik Nikolay Strakhov» from electricity, leaving the sailors on board without air conditioning, ventilation, water and sewage systems.
Total disconnection of the Russian ship from the shore-based power supply systems occurred on March 11. For a week, sailors managed to turn on the electric generator for an hour a day, using the fuel reserve, but by March 19, fuel on board ran out and the people were left without power.
On «Nikolay Strakhov» the toilets, shower and air-conditioning system were out of order. The temperature in the cabins in the 40-degree heat reaches 60 degrees. The sailors are not allowed to leave the port. There are 14 people aboard, including two women. One crew member needs urgent surgery. The ship is short of water and food.
Sri Lankan port authorities have cut off power to «Akademik Nikolai Strakhov» due to debts exceeding $200 thousand. Funds for maintenance and repair of the research ship stopped coming from January 2015.
In August 2013, the propeller shaft failed on «Akademik Strakhov» near the Maldives. The ship was towed to the Sri Lankan port of Colombo for repairs. The Geological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences found money to order a new propeller, pay for most of the repairs and keep the crew on board. For some time, the institute also paid port fees. Since 2014, as a result of the RAS reform, all the property of the Academy of Sciences was transferred to the Federal Agency of Scientific Organizations (FANO). However, the agency, despite repeated requests from the Geological Institute, never allocated money for the maintenance of «Academician Strakhov».
A campaign has been launched on Facebook to save «Academician Strakhov». According to the latest reports, on March 18 the situation was discussed at the meeting in the Presidential Administration.
Research vessel «Akademik Nikolay Strakhov» studied geological and geophysical peculiarities of the ocean floor structure. It is the most equipped research vessel of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
