ASTANA
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Tug raised three months after sinking
The 'Astana' was raised on June 18 and brought safely to the port of Midia. It was taken in tow along with the crane by the tug 'Ataman' and secured at a berth of the Midia Marine Terminal and remained under the permanent guard of the Coast Guard, for the continuation of the investigations. The bodies of three of them have been recovered so far, and two crew members wee still missing. The salvage was carried out under the supervision and approval of the competent authorities. Report with photo: https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/stiri-constanta-remorcher-astana-ranfluat-scos-din-mare-adus-portul-midia-doi-marinari-disparuti-5784559
Body of missing crew member recovered during salvage
ARAS Salvage completed the first stage of the recovery of the 'Astana', which was resting on the bottom near Midia Port in a water depth of 26 metres, roughly eight kilometres offshore in the Black Sea, on June 17 at around 2:35 p.m. The work was continued with pumping out the water from the vessel, a process expected to take up to 12 hours. The waterwas removed using specialised pumps inserted without accessing the vessel's interior, which remained secured. On the morning of June 18, during the preparations to lift the tug, ARAS Salvage divers identified the body of one of the missing crew members, who was subsequently recovered and transferred to Midia Port, in compliance with safety procedures and the requirements of the investigative authorities. Tthe same procedures was to be applied throughout the refloating operation in the case of the other two sailors who were still missing. The wreck is expected to be brought to the quay by the end of the week, with the company noting that the contractor's estimates were indicative and could be subject to changes, depending on operational progress, weather conditions and applicable safety requirements.
Salvage of tug in Midia
The recovery of the 'Astana', which sank in the port of Midia on March 18, resulting in the deaths of two Romanian crew members and the disappearance of three others, started on June 17and was carried out by the ARAS Salvage. The tug was resting at a water depth of 26 metres, and the salvage operation was estimated to last between five and six hours, depending on technical and weather conditions. The work started with rotating the wreck and ensure its buoyancy. During the docking maneuvers of the tanker 'Amades', the 'Astana' had lost propulsion and sank. . The sailors' families maintain that the tugboat was not prepared for the maneuver in question.
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