On Lake Baikal, the private motor ship Irkutsk carried 74 tourists with serious safety violations. The captain lacked proper qualifications, and passenger capacity was more than doubled. A criminal case has been opened.
The private motor vessel "Irkutsk" transported 74 tourists across Lake Baikal without complying with the requirements for the safety of passengers’ life and health. The transportation was carried out from the pier in the village of Khuzhir toward Ogoy Island and back.The Investigative Department of the Eastern Siberian Transport Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia has opened a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 238 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. This was reported by the press service of the Eastern Siberian Transport Prosecutor’s Office.
"According to the experts’ conclusion, the vessel’s captain operated it without sufficient qualifications. At the same time, he exceeded the vessel’s permitted passenger capacity by more than two times. The motor vessel also did not meet fire safety requirements, and the life rafts on board had not been repacked within the established period," the press service said.
The Baikal-Angara Transport Prosecutor’s Office has established prosecutorial supervision over the investigation of this criminal case.