Offshore Disaster and Inferno at Sea

The monsoon season and offshore activities areThe sequence of damage was so severe that oil
routine and normal for all offshore personnel. Thecarrying riser was also damaged leaking a lot of oil into
Divers, Mariners and Logistic support personnel werethe vicinity of the ill fated platform.
all individually and collectively carrying out offshoreThe chaos and commotion were taking its toll. The
operations.Their collective efforts were producingprevailing weather was adding fuel to fire. The People
positive results. A sense of satisfaction prevailedabandoned the platform and the ship. Life boats were
among them. As it happened in the past whenlaunched and some people jumped into the sea. It was
weather played havoc and things took dramatic turnsthe old ship, and it has open life boats.The flames were
damaging offshore installations, equipments andvery high reaching a height of approximately 500
materials.feet.The debris was flying all-round. All offshore
The offshore personnel did carryout their task in thepersonnel remain adrift for few hours prior to been
face of harsh climatic conditions and rough weather torescued by other vessels.The other unlucky one lost
achieve desired results. However, it was the ill fatedtheir life without any traced. Some dead bodies were
day of July 25th 2005 when South west monsoonalso recovered subsequently.
was at its peak in Mumbai, a commercial capitalThe ship was burning and drifting. The diving
situated on the west coast of India. The fury of naturesuperintendent took all possible measures pressurized
was so severe and intense that it unleashed the rainto a maximum depth for safe recovery of divers in
that did not stop for 10 hours pouring 975 millimetres ofcase the ship sinks. The Divers who were in the
rain. It inundated many apartments up to first floor level.saturation chambers were left to their fate. However,
It disrupted normal life as most of the telephone anddestiny played a major role and luck was on their side.
power lines were damaged. Many people stranded inWhile the ship was a still burning and decompression
their respective places as all trains, buses, etc.process started. When they reached 30 metres of
remained non-operational.depth they were brought out safely and transferred to
The offshore oil field which is situated at about 150 Kiloanother diving vessel. They were finally brought ashore
metres away in the directions West North West fromand told the trauma of seeing death in front of their
mainland was also experiencing very rough weather.eyes. The news flashed all over the world as it was
A Multi Support Vessel was also carrying out its divingthe major oil platform disaster in the history of
operations at a satellite platform. It was the humanoffshore oil industry in the world. On the other hand; the
error and bad luck for a cook who severed his finger.families were in a dilemma as no news of survivors
It required immediate medical help. There was nocould reach them until late in the evening.
doctor onboard. The day Master took a decision andIt was the bad decision of one man that cost a huge
abandoned diving operation. He also called theloss of men and material, besides putting the financial
controlling platform for evacuation of the patient. Theburden on the Oil Company and reduction in production.
weather and sea conditions did not permit helicopter toEventually, the ship sank and with it lost the vital clue.
land on board. Hence permission was granted and theThe sequence of events was never reconstructed
vessel proceeded towards controlling platform forand no debriefing was held. Hence all facts and figures
passenger transfer.were remained in the dark.
The weather condition was such that the swell heightThe trauma faced by the families was full of misery
was 20-25 feet and continual squall and rain reducedand hardship. The affected families and survivors
the visibility to the barest minimum. The vesselwere never been compensated as expected. The
positioned on the south face, abreast of themeager amount of compensation has not only been
platform.The platform crane lowered the personnelpathetic but also an insult to the humanity. It would
basket and the cook was lifted up from the deck. Athave been better if things were more transparent and
that crucial and critical moment, the vessel behaved inhonestly made public. The inefficiency, careless attitude
a very unusual manner. It made a contact with theand corrupt practices of oil company personnel were
platform and ruptured a 14"Gas Riser (Pipe carryingthe root cause of the disaster, consequently, affecting
Gas). The phenomenal volume of Gas leak caughtsurvivors and those families who lost the bread
instant fire and the platform was engulfed in flames.earners.