Petroleum exploitation companies operate a fleet of Ice Breaking Emergency Evacuation Vessels (IBEEV) on the
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, often described as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. An endorheic basin, it lies between Europe and Asia; east of the Caucasus, west of the broad steppe of Central Asia ...
, to service the extensive oil fields there.
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The vessels are designed to evacuate up to 338 individuals per trip. They are designed to function using compressed air to power their engines, if they are passing through pools of burning oil, or oxygen poor environments—carrying enough compressed air to function for 50 minutes. Every evacuee is issued a rebreather, for passing through anoxic environments, if the airtight evacuation capsules are compromised. The vessels are insulated so passengers and crew can survive transiting through pools of burning oil. Since the Caspian freezes during winter the vessels are designed to break up to of ice.
The vessels were designed by AKAC Inc. and
Robert Allan Limited
Robert Allan Ltd. is Canada's oldest privately owned consulting Naval Architectural firm, established in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1930. Their experience includes designs for vessels of almost all types, from small fishing boats to ocean- ...
, a firm of Canadian naval architects.
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Initially, in 2005
Remontowa
Remontowa (full name: Gdańska Stocznia "Remontowa" im. J. Piłsudskiego S.A.) is a company and shipyard in Gdańsk, Poland. The yard specialises in ship repair and conversions. ''Remontowa S.''A. is one of 26 companies that make up the Remonto ...
built four vessels.
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By 2012 the fleet contained ten vessels.][
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There is provision to carry ten stretcher-bound, wounded evacuees, while the remaining 328 evacuees are seated in one of three evacuation capsules.[
Only two crewmembers are required to operate the vessels.
]
References
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Icebreakers