COPENHAGEN, Denmark –
The drilling unit of Danish conglomerate A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S says a Norwegian employee has died after an accident occurred on a small rig in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.
Maersk Drilling says an investigation is ongoing, but declined to comment further or name the victim. It says Friday it is taking "this incident very seriously."
The Copenhagen-based group said the accident happened Thursday on Maersk Interceptor and involved two of its employees. The other person, whose identity was not released, was also injured but his condition is not critical.
Norwegian rescue officials said one person had fallen into the sea, was picked up and flown by helicopter to land. Another person was hit by an object. It was unclear which one had died.
=====================
An oil worker has died after falling from a North Sea rig yesterday.
Maersk Drilling said there had been an accident involving two employees on its Interceptor rig around midday.
The company initially said one of the employees had fallen from the rig and had been taken to hospital for treatment.
It said the second crew member had been treated on board the rig for injuries and was being picked up by helicopter.
The incident took place at the Tambar field in the Norwegian North Sea, where the rig was doing a job for Aker BP.
Aker BP said this morning that the worker who fell from the rig during maintenance work had passed away.
The second crew member’s condition is “not critical”.
Aker BP said an investigation was under way to establish the cause of the incident.
Production on Tambar has been shut down temporarily.
Aker BP chief executive Karl Johnny Hersvik said: “Our thoughts are now with the families, the injured person and everyone else who is affected by this serious accident.
“We have cooperated closely with Maersk Drilling and will do all we can to take care of those affected and their families in this difficult situation.
“This is a serious accident, and we will do our utmost to identify the cause. We will make all resources available in the upcoming investigation.”
Maersk Drilling said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that we can inform that one of the injured employees, a Norwegian citizen, has passed away.
“The family of the employee in question has been notified and we have set up crisis counselling for our employees and their families.
“The other injured person is receiving medical treatment and his condition is not critical.
“This is a very difficult time for the family, our crew members and the organisation as a whole.
“We at Maersk Drilling would like to extend our deepest condolences, and we ask that the family’s privacy is respected in this difficult time.
“We will make every effort possible to help the family and our crew.
“We take this incident very seriously and Maersk Drilling and customer Aker BP is committed to clarifying all aspects of the incident.
“We kindly ask you to respect that we cannot comment on specific information and details while investigations are ongoing.”