bulk freighter Pyotr Vasev. The Admiral Nakhimov radioed the Pyotr Vasev and its captain, Viktor Tkachenko, with a warning, but was assured that the the ships would pass clear of each other and that everything would be fine. Based on this, the captain of the
Admiral Nakhimov, Vadim Markov retired to his cabin, leaving second mate Alexander Chudnovsk in command. The Pyotr Vasev, however, did nothing to alter its course or speed. Chudnovsk continued to radio the freighter and even eventually altered his own course by 10 degrees
but it was too late. At 11:12 p.m., Admiral Nakhimov was struck by Pyotr Vasev and the momentum of the cargo ship opened an 84-square meter hole int he side of the Admiral Nakhimov. between the engine room and the boiler room.
The passenger ship immediately began to list to starboard and the power on the ship failed, leaving the passengers, many of who had retired to their cabins, in total darkness. The ship quickly began to sink, the result of the removal of bulkheads during the refit to be able to accommodate
more passengers. Admiral Nakhimov sank in 8 minutes, claiming the lives of 423 people. The subsequent investigation found that the captains of both ships had violated navigational safety rules and both were sentenced to 15 years in prison. Both men were released in 1992.