Offshore staff

MOSCOW – The most recent reports from Russia regarding the sinking of the Kolskoye drilling rig off Sakhalin Island says an emergency aid center has opened for the families of those involved in the incident.

According to earlier reports, the Emergency Management Center for the Sakhalin region received a signal that the Kolskoye had overturned in the Sea of Okhotsk while being towed. The rig was 200 km (124 mi) away from Sakhalin Island at the time.

The Magadan icebreaker and the Neftegas-55 tugboat which were towing the rig started recovering people while and Mi-8 helicopter of Aviashelf Co. started out from Nogliki and the Atlas rescue ship from the Sakhalin search and rescue center moved toward the location.

Reports have it that at last count, 14 of the 67-person rig complement had been saved but 14 bodies had been found. One of the four life rafts on board the rig has been located with 15 people aboard. Their conditions are unknown. The report also points out that all the people on board the Kolskoye had hydrothermal suits and life jackets.

Storm conditions in the area are hampering recovery.

Cause of the overturn and sinking is being investigated.

12/19/2011