Jack up Rig Sinks Offshore Russia

After an oil drilling platform capsized Sunday in the Sea of Okhotsk off Russia’s east coast, 4 workers have been reported missing and 49 killed.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry stated that there were 67 people aboard the Kolskaya jack up drilling rig as it was being towed about 120 miles off the coast of Sakhalin Island in stormy conditions.

The regional Sakhalin Centre for Crisis Management of Emercom of Russia dispatched two vessels and a Mi-8 helicopter to the site to rescue people. Atlas rescue ship and Mi-8 of Aviashelf Company will join the operation.

No environmental risk has been reported.

The Kolskaya rig was built in 1985. At 230 feet by 262 feet, it is one of the largest oil rigs in Russia. It was due to set sail for drilling off the Vietnamese coast at the end of its current mission. The rig was operated by Russian exploration company Arktikmorneftegazrazvedka.

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World Maritime News Staff, December 19, 2011