Thursday, January 15, 2015

Norway’s PSA investigates Mærsk Giant lifeboat incident

Norway’s PSA investigates Mærsk Giant lifeboat incident

STAVANGER. Norway – Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) is to investigate a lifeboat incident, which occurred on the Mærsk Giant mobile drilling facility on Jan. 14.
The incident occurred during testing of the lifeboat systems on the Mærsk Giant, which is equipped with conventional lowered lifeboats.

During testing, one of the lifeboats was unintentionally lowered to the sea. The lifeboat then drifted underneath the facility.  The wire rope which the lifeboat was lowered on wore through.

Following the incident, the lifeboat drifted away from Mærsk Giant with an emergency vessel as escort. There were no personnel on board the lifeboat when the incident occurred.

The PSA takes a serious view of the incident, and has decided to undertake an investigation. The object of the investigation is to ascertain the sequence of events, proximate and underlying causes, actual and potential consequences and to identify any regulatory breaches.

The PSA' s investigation team began its work on Jan. 14.

Mærsk Giant is presently positioned on Yme field in the southern North Sea. Talisman Energy Norge AS has consent from the PSA to use Mærsk Giant as living quarters in connection with preparations for removing the Yme facility.

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The PSA has decided to investigate the lifeboat incident which occurred on the Mærsk Giant mobile drilling facility on 14 January 2015.



The incident occurred during testing of the lifeboat systems on the Mærsk Giant mobile drilling facility.

Mærsk Giant is equipped with conventional lowered lifeboats. During testing, one of the lifeboats was unintentionally lowered to the sea. The lifeboat then drifted underneath the facility.  The wire rope which the lifeboat was lowered on wore through.

Following the incident, the lifeboat drifted away from Mærsk Giant with an emergency vessel as escort.

There were no personnel on board the lifeboat when the incident occurred.
The PSA takes a serious view of the incident, and has decided to undertake an investigation. The object of our investigation is to ascertain the sequence of events, proximate and underlying causes, actual and potential consequences and to identify any regulatory breaches. The intention is to contribute to learning and transfer of experience – and thereby to help prevent similar incidents. The investigation will result in a report that will be published on ptil.no. 

The PSA's investigation team began its work on 14 January.

Mærsk Giant is presently positioned on the Yme field in the southern North Sea. Talisman Energy Norge AS has consent from the PSA to use Mærsk Giant as living quarters in connection with preparations for removing the Yme facility.