Two cargo ships, the Portuguese-flagged “BUGOE” and the Latvian-flagged “FRIENDLAND,” became stranded due to severe winter weather conditions close to Estonia. The vessels between the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Finland, and the Gulf of Riga became anchored by strong nighttime winds and drift ice.
With about thirty miles per hour winds, the 4,700-dwt Latvian-flagged ship FRIENDLAND encountered drift ice that blocked its shipping channel. The ship became stuck in the ice and sent a distress call,...