According to Andrei Orlov, the chief spokesman for the Coast Guard Service's North-Eastern division, on February 18, the Service's An-72 plane on patrol duty in an area closed for fishery activities spotted an unidentified Japanese-made ship towing a fishing net full of crabs.
After the pilot ordered the ship to change course and approach the coastal guard's patrol boat on duty in the area, the ship slowed down and hove to, claiming malfunction of the main engine. The vessel's skipper then radioed that in case the coast guards pursued the chase he would open the flood valves and sink the ship. When the coast guards' patrol boat approached the ship, the latter rushed off at full steam attempting to shake off the pursuit.
After an eight-hour chase and a few warning shots the coast guards' plane fired for effect. The shells hit the ship's conning room and stern. The poaching vessel slowed down then and let the coast guards' inspectors on board.
The ship suffered minor damages, with none of the crew members injured in the incident.
The preliminary inspection revealed that the poaching ship Yamasen-Mary belonged to a Cambodian fishing company, with the crew made up totally of Russian nationals.
The coast guards found over three tons of frozen pollack onboard along with about 300 kilograms of herring used for bait. The Yamasen-Maru also had three tanks specially designed for keeping and transporting live crabs. The skipper failed to produce any authorization for fishing in the area.
The Coast Guard's Command ordered the ship to be escorted to the port of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky for further investigation.
