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Sea search for tanker sailor

Sea search for tanker sailor

A search is under way off the Carnarvon coastline for a 41-year-old man who fell overboard from a crude oil tanker.

At about 3am this morning a distress signal was received from the Sigma Integrity, a Liberian crude oil tanker, that a man was overboard about 107 nautical miles north-west of Carnarvon.

An Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokesman said the Sigma Integrity had dropped flotation equipment for the man overboard.

Two other vessels, Venus and Vil Atlantic, responded to a shipping broadcast and are now assisting with the search.

A Dornier search and rescue aircraft has been tasked from Perth and is currently in the area.

This afternoon, that aircraft must return to land for refuelling at which time two Bristow helicopters tasked out of Exmouth will join the search.

The search will continue until last light about 5.30pm.

The oil tanker had been due to arrive in Kwinana tomorrow night.