Russian Cargo Ship Refloated After Running Aground Off English Coast

The Kuzma Minin aground off England's southwestern coast

A Russian cargo ship was refloated and towed back to sea, hours after it ran aground off southwestern England in bad weather.

British naval authorities said the 15,000-ton Kuzma Minin, with 18 crew members on board, was being towed to sea by three tugs late on December 18, with the help of a higher tide.

А spokeswoman for Britain's Maritime and Coastguard Agency said there were no reports of pollution.

The Kuzma Minin was heading toward Spain when it unexpectedly changed its course, apparently due to a malfunction, and then ran aground near Cornwall.

The vessel was "dangerously close" to a nearby beach, according to the Daily Mirror, a British newspaper.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and TASS