PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, November 12 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian fishing trawler is in distress in the Bering Sea off the northeastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, a local emergencies official reported on Thursday.
"The Fortuna trawler with 16 crewmembers has lost power due to a fuel system malfunction and is drifting in the Karaginsky Gulf about 142 kilometers [88 miles] off the coast," the official said.
The vessel is being monitored by a coastguard patrol boat ready to take the crew on board if their lives become threatened.
According to the official, the crew is attempting to repair the fuel system and restart the engine by 08.00 Moscow time (05.00 GMT).
"The situation is under control," he said.
The 177-foot Fortuna was built in 1992. The ship is based in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.