BUCHAREST, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A tugboat capsized Wednesday morning near Midia Port in Constanta, Romania, leaving one person dead and four others missing, according to the Romanian Naval Authority.
The accident occurred around 8:40 a.m. local time (0640 GMT), when the Romanian-flagged tugboat ASTANA overturned while assisting the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker Amades during a docking maneuver at the offshore Monbuoy terminal, approximately 8 km from Midia Port.
Emergency response teams were dispatched immediately. One crew member was rescued and brought ashore. Despite the medical teams' efforts of resuscitation, the individual was pronounced dead.
The remaining four crew members are missing and presumed dead, as search and rescue operations continue. Divers from Midia Marine Terminal are assisting authorities in the ongoing mission.
The ASTANA, built in 2006, measured 26.09 meters in length and was powered by a 2,610 kW engine.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause and circumstances of the incident, which remain unknown at this time. ■
