On January 26, 2026, in the southern waters of the South China Sea, the crew of the rescue tugboat "Alatau" of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Federation discovered and brought aboard a person in extreme condition. The ship was en route to Vladivostok on a scheduled transit when a visual patrol spotted an object on the surface of the water at a distance that allowed them to identify a person.
According to the operational report, the rescued man turned out to be a Filipino citizen, a member of the tanker "S. Grace" crew. According to his testimony, he accidentally fell overboard while performing deck work. The total duration of being in the marine environment was approximately 48 hours. Considering the tropical climate of the region, the water temperature contributed to the preservation of the victim's viability, but the risk of dehydration and hypothermia remained critical.
The standard emergency procedure was activated on board the "Alatau": the sailors approached the victim from the leeward side, used a lifebuoy and a line for fixation, and then lifted the person onto the deck using a cargo boom. The tugboat's medical station provided first aid: thermocompensation, fluid replenishment, and examination for hypothermia were performed. The current condition of the Filipino sailor is assessed as satisfactory, and hospitalization is not required.
«Алатау» is a Project 1452 rescue sea tug, commissioned on December 29, 1983.
Technical characteristics:
- Displacement: standard — 3075 tons, full — 4072 tons
- Dimensions: length — 92.6 m, width — 15.39 m, draft — 5.85 m
- Full speed: 18.98 knots
- Cruising range: 15,000 miles (12 knots), 7,500 miles (18.98 knots)
- Endurance: 60 days
- Propulsion: 2 × 4500 hp, 58D-4R diesels, 2 CRP propellers in nozzles, 2 bow thrusters, 4 DG DGR-300/750-1 300 kW each, 1 DG DGA-100-2 100 kW
- Crew: 71 people
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