Mystery as fate of Russian ship is unknown (From Falmouth Packet)

Mystery as fate of Russian ship is unknown

11:00am Monday 11th March 2013 in Falmouth/Penryn By David Barnicoat

Mystery surrounds the fate of the former Russian cruise ship Lyubov Orlova which has been adrift in the Atlantic for over a month now after parting its tow whilst enroute from Canada to the Dominican Republic.

On January 23 the 60 year old tug Charlene Hunt and the tow left Canada. Within hours the towline parted. An oil rig tender managed to secure a new towline but this parted on January 31st. Since then the cruise ship has drifted eastwards across the Atlantic.

American and Irish authorities pouring over satellite imagery say that the ship was spotted 1,300 miles from the coast of Ireland.

Another source claimed the Lyubov Orlova's EPIRB had activated which may mean that she has already foundered.