Arctic Emergency Response Center has been opened in Arkhangelsk within the framework of the international conference on emergency response in the Arctic, press center of Arkhangelsk Region Government says.
The functions of the Arctic Emergency Response Center include firefighting, diving operations, removal of oil products from water surface, search and rescue operations on land and sea, prevention and response to emergency situations.
The area of responsibility of the Center personnel is the Arctic zone of the Arkhangelsk Region and the Nenets Autonomous Region which cover some 1.5 mln square kilometers.
“I would call the Arctic Emergency Response Center a special one as it provides a number of unique opportunities. It has training, scientific and production facilities providing for prompt responding to possible emergencies. Besides, when executing its tasks the Center can use the potential of ship repair yards in Severodvinsk and White Sea Naval Base,” Arkhangelsk Region Governor Igor Belov said.
The rescue personnel (160 persons) and maintenance staff (55 persons) will work at the center. In the nearest time the Center will take delivery of firefighting and rescue equipment (9 units).
Within the framework of the opening ceremony, a demonstration exercise involving rescue ships and air crafts was held. Information was forwarded to the emergency response headquarters by video link.