Monday, July 22, 2024

Crew Rescued as Fire Destroys FSO Off Nigeria

oil storage platform fire
Massive fire destroying the offshore storage platform (NIMSA)

PUBLISHED JUL 22, 2024 12:20 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

 

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency is reporting that all 19 crewmembers survived a fire on a floating storage unit employed by a domestic oil company. Brittania-U released a statement saying the fire has been brought under control while thanking the Navy, Shell, and others for their assistance.

The 4,000 barrel-per-day capacity FSO was reportedly nearly 30 years old and has been in continuous operation in the Nigerian Delta State region. Brittania-U, a domestic oil company, established operations in 2017 at the former OML 90 field now known as PML 6 offshore from Warri, a city in southern Nigeria that is the hub of the oil industry.

Reports of the fire were received on July 18 by the central control station in Lagos, Nigeria. A Nigerian Navy ship, NNS Delta, was sent to the scene and when it reached the platform which was approximately 11 nautical miles from shore it was engulfed in flames with the crew calling for help. Some of the crewmembers jumped into the water to escape the flames.

 

 

Videos posted online show the crewmembers being pulled to safety aboard the Nigeria Navy vessel. They were later transferred to shore.

The field has been in production since 2010 after a government effort 20 years ago to lease 31 smaller sites to Nigerian companies. Brittania-U has a contract to sell its oil to Chevron. The oil major uses shuttle barges to transfer oil from the FSO to the export terminal.

An investigation is underway into the cause of the fire.

Indian Navy Frigate Catches Fire and Capsizes at Mumbai Dockyard

Brahmaputra
INS Brahmaputra (Public domain)

PUBLISHED JUL 22, 2024 4:05 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

On Sunday, a fire broke out aboard the Indian Navy frigate INS Brahmaputra, leaving one sailor missing and causing severe damage to the vessel. 

The Brahmaputra was undergoing routine maintenance at the Indian Navy's Mumbai Naval Dockyard when the ship caught fire. After the fire was confirmed out on Sunday afternoon, the ship took on a worsening port list. "Despite all efforts" to right the ship, the vessel partially capsized at the pier with its mast resting on the quayside. 

Though the cause of the capsizing has not been confirmed, the accumulation of firefighting water can reduce stability if not properly managed with pumping. 

"All personnel have been accounted for except one junior sailor, for whom the search is in progress. An inquiry has been ordered by the Indian Navy to investigate the accident," the Indian Navy said in a statement. 

Brahmaputra is a multirole frigate built in 2000. She is fitted for air defense and surface warfare roles, and can accommodate the Indian Navy's shipboard helicopters for antisubmarine warfare. 

It is the third time in a decade that a vessel has sustained a serious casualty at the Mumbai Naval Dockyard. In 2013, the Russian-built Kilo-class attack sub INS Sindhurakshak caught fire, exploded and sank at the yard, killing 18 crewmembers. An after-accident report found that crew fatigue and an ammunition handling error were the root causes. In 2016, the frigate INS Betwa - a sister ship of INS Brahmaputra - fell off her support blocks during refloating at the end of a drydock period, killing two and injuring 15. Betwa was salvaged and repaired, and she returned to service in 2020. 

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