The Russian Navy’s specialists have left St. Petersburg on AN-124 military transport aircraft for Argentine to help search for the submarine San Juan.

The unit is made up of a commander and operators for the Pantera Plus deep-sea craft, salvage divers and a diving medic.

Earlier, containers with the Pantera Plus and diving equipment were delivered to the Pulkovo airport from the city of Lomonosov.

The unit leader is 1st Rank Captain Sergey Bashmakov, the Head of the Rescue and Underwater Technologies R&D Institute.

All the Russian specialists have long-term experience of search-and-rescue operations. Salvage divers as well as operators for the Pantera Plus deep-sea craft have been mastering their skills in course of numerous exercises and trainings.

On November 23, on behalf of the Russian President, the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation General of the Army Sergei Shoigu held a telephone conversation with his counterpart from Argentine.

According to results of the negotiations, the head of the Russian defence department made a decision to send specialists of the 328th expedition search-and-rescue unit of the Russian Navy to provide assistance to the Argentine in search for the submarine San Juan.

 

Within the shortest possible time, transport aircraft is to deliver the specialists with the Pantera Plus deep-sea craft to carry out search works.

 

Moreover, Russian Navy ocean survey ship Yantar has been sent to the region. Currently, the ship is conducting scheduled works near west Africa shores.