The Russian vehicle-and-passenger ferry Lavrentiy has suffered catastrophic damage to its superstructure and is likely beyond repair.
This assessment is based on satellite images released by the Exilenova+ project.
One of the images, taken while the ferry was moored at a berth in Kerch, shows that Lavrentiy’s superstructure has been almost completely destroyed by fire.
The area beneath the superstructure also appears to have sustained damage, with signs of fire visible on the vehicle deck as well.
According to the nature of the damage, the strike hit the aft section of the superstructure, where the passenger compartment was located.
As a result of the fire, the upper deck of the superstructure was completely destroyed, and the passenger compartment itself also appears to have been gutted by the blaze.
The vessel’s bridge sustained significant damage as well. The images show evidence of an intense fire that severely damaged its aft section. The bridge houses the ferry’s navigation and control systems.
In addition, the mast was heavily burned. It carried the vessel’s communications systems, navigation equipment, and onboard radar.
Given the nature and extent of the damage, it can be assumed that the Lavrentiy has been rendered completely inoperable.
The catastrophic destruction of the superstructure – one of the ship’s key structural components – makes restoration highly unlikely or economically unfeasible.
This assessment is further supported by the fact that the ferry was built at the Greek shipyard Panagiotis Theodoropoulos Ltd. Co. General Marine Repairs.
Given the extent of the damage, it is unlikely that Russian ship repair facilities would be able to restore the vessel on their own.
As previously reported, Lavrentiy was struck near Port Kavkaz area on June 21. The ferries Elena II and Panagia were also hit in the same attack.
