Headquarters: Search for oilmen missing in Caspian Sea continues along coastal areas

Headquarters: Search for oilmen missing in Caspian Sea continues along coastal areas
# 21 December 2016 07:41 (UTC +04:00)

Upon the order of Azerbaijani President on several measures regarding accident occurred at Oil Gathering Station of SOCAR’s Azneft PU dated December 16, 2016, search and rescue operations are underway in accordance with the plan affirmed by the Headquarters consisting of experts of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Defence Ministry, State Border Service, the State Maritime Administration of Azerbaijan Republic, SOCAR and Caspian Shipping Company.

Weather condition, direction and speed of wind, underwater and above-water currents were reanalyzed and it was made a decision to extend the area of search operation. The search and rescue operations are recommended to be conducted in the area with length of 125 km and width of 108 km.

According to the State Maritime Administration of Azerbaijan Republic, 44 vessels, 6 helicopters and more than 700 personnel of the abovementioned structures are involved in the search for the missing oilmen.

The Headquarters is regularly exchanging information with all vessels and National Centers for Vessel Traffic Management of the Caspian states.

At the same time, personnel of Ministry of Emergency Situations and State Border Service are conducting the search operation.

The accident took place at about 05:00 a.m., on Dec. 15, due to strong wind, which blew away a part of a flyover of the 150-meter long oil-gathering station #3 of the department on oil and gas output of Azneft Production Union. Meanwhile, the board attached to the flyover and a booth on it were also blown away.

One person died and nine people went missing.

A joint special commission has been created to investigate the accident.

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THE OPERATION IS BEING PERFORMED