Search operations for nine oil workers who went missing in the Caspian Sea after an accident on Socar-operated oil facilities offshore Azerbaijan are still in progress.
Ten offshore oil workers went missing last Thursday after strong winds had caused the collapse of the oil gathering station No 3 of Socar’s Azneft Oil & Gas Production Division.
The body of one worker was recovered during search and rescue operations last week and a memorial service was held on Sunday.
While divers did find the pieces of the installation that collapsed in the water, none of the other missing oil workers have been found.
The search and rescue plan has already been approved with search areas determined by experts from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Defense, the State Border Service, the State Maritime Administration, the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping CJSC, and the state-owned oil company Socar.
The search operations involve 44 vessels, 6 helicopters, and over 700 people. Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations said on Monday it decided to further expand the search area.
Offshore Energy Today Staff