Rescue ship “Sapphire” returned to Ukraine: moored near the berth of the port of Izmail

Rescue vessel “Sapphire” returned to Ukraine/Maritime Search and Rescue Service

The rescue ship “Sapphire” was returned to Ukraine on April 11. It was moored near the berth of the port of Izmail.

According to the rescuers, the ship will return to its main tasks.

It will be in constant search and rescue readiness. The Marine Search and Rescue Service noted that the Sapphire is the only Ukrainian civilian vessel that, despite its age, is in constant search and rescue readiness. It is capable of performing extremely complex tasks on the high seas, including not only search and rescue of human life, but also emergency towing and fire fighting.

The rescue ship “Sapphire” was returned to Ukraine/Photo by the Marine Search and Rescue Service

What happened before

• On February 26, Russian warships seized the civilian rescue ship Sapphire. They took hostage a priest of the OCU, who was trying to pick up the bodies of those killed on Zmein.
• On March 24, the crew of the Ukrainian rescue ship “Sapphire” seized by the Russian military returned to Ukraine.
• On April 8, the ship was returned under control Ukraine. It was delivered to the Romanian port of Sulina.