MOSCOW. Jan 29 (Interfax) - Baltic Fleet sailors in the Gulf of Aden have helped out the crew of a foreign yacht that broke down in the ocean, Baltic Fleet spokesperson Roman Martov said.
"The crew of the sea tug Viktor Konetsky rendered technical assistance in the Gulf of Aden, removing a defect in the power system of a foreign twin-hull yacht," Martov said.
The yacht registered in port Avatiu, the Cook Islands, had four citizens of New Zealand aboard. The Yaroslav Mudry frigate during Russian-Japanese exercises in the Gulf of Aden received a signal from the yacht crew asking for assistance with a technical failure.
Commander of the Baltic Fleet naval group Capt 1st class Alexander Mashinetsky ordered the Viktor Konetsky tug to help the yacht.
The tug approached the yacht at a safe distance and sent a team of sailors on a fast boat to the vessel in distress. The Russian sailors discovered a defect in the power system of the civilian vessel. Afterward, a special fusible cut was made and installed, helping the vessel resume operation.
"Besides, at the request of the yacht's captain, Baltic Fleet sailors shared 100 liters of drinking water with the New Zealanders. Having seen to it that the travelers can safely continue their ocean voyage, the crew of the Viktor Konetsky returned to performing their part of the naval exercises," Martov said.
The assistance operation took two hours.
The Baltic Fleet naval team is continuing anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean.