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.

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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.

SISTERS’ WHISTLEBLOWER CASE OVER STATE FARM’S KATRINA CLAIMS NEARS COURT OF APPEALS DATE. THE JURY FOUND IN 2013 THAT STATE FARM AVOIDED COVERING A POLICYHOLDER’S WIND LOSSES BY BLAMING DAMAGE ON STORM SURGE, WHICH IS COVERED BY FEDERAL FLOOD INSURANCE.

SISTERS’ WHISTLEBLOWER CASE OVER STATE FARM’S KATRINA CLAIMS NEARS COURT OF APPEALS DATE.  THE JURY FOUND IN 2013 THAT STATE FARM AVOIDED COVERING A POLICYHOLDER’S WIND LOSSES BY BLAMING DAMAGE ON STORM SURGE, WHICH IS COVERED BY FEDERAL FLOOD INSURANCE.

January 5, 2015

State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. has appealed an order that it pay legal fees and damages of $3 million in a whistleblower lawsuit in which a jury found the insurer defrauded the government in a policyholder claim after Hurricane Katrina.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has scheduled oral arguments in the case for Feb. 5 in New Orleans.

Sisters Cori and Kerri Rigsby of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, worked for an Alabama contractor E.A. Renfroe hired by State Farm to provide damage assessments after the August 2005 hurricane. Their lawsuit was filed in 2006.

Sisters Were Whistleblowers in Katrina Claims Handling Case

The jury found in 2013 that State Farm avoided covering a policyholder’s wind losses by blaming damage on storm surge, which is covered by federal flood insurance.

State Farm seeks to have the verdict overturned and the Rigsbys’ claims dismissed.

The Rigsbys allege State Farm’s fraud against the National Flood Insurance Program was widespread along the Mississippi Coast after Katrina.

While the sisters had pursued cases for a number of policyholders, a federal judge took to trial only one State Farm claim — that of Thomas and Pamela McIntosh whose Biloxi, Mississippi, home was lost to the storm — because the sisters have firsthand knowledge of how the claim was handled.

The sisters allege documents showed the insurer defrauded policyholders by manipulating engineers’ reports so claims could be denied.

State Farm said it assessed the damage correctly and never instructed its adjusters to wrongly process claims as flood damage, nor did it withhold a report that showed the home had been destroyed by wind as the Rigbys alleged.

At State Farm’s direction, NFIP paid the Macintoshes’ policy limits of $250,000. State Farm initially paid the couple $36,000 for wind damage on a policy that provided more than $500,000 in coverage, according to court documents.

State Farm denied any wrongdoing.

On the issue of damages, U.S. District Judge Halil S. Ozerden ordered State Farm to pay $750,000 in damages to the government. The Rigsbys will each receive 15 percent of the $750,000 awarded the government.

Ozerden also awarded $2.6 million to the Rigsbys’ attorneys plus expenses in the amount of $303,078.

TWO MORE HOMEOWNERS ALLEGE THAT REPORTS WERE FORGED TO DENY OR REDUCE HURRICANE SANDY INSURANCE CLAIMS. HIRISE, U.S. FORENSIC ARE ACCUSED OF “DOCTORING” THE INSPECTION REPORTS TO DENY OR MINIMIZE PAYMENTS TO THE FLOOD VICTIMS.

TWO MORE HOMEOWNERS ALLEGE THAT REPORTS WERE FORGED TO DENY OR REDUCE HURRICANE SANDY INSURANCE CLAIMS.  HIRISE, U.S. FORENSIC ARE ACCUSED OF “DOCTORING” THE INSPECTION REPORTS TO DENY OR MINIMIZE PAYMENTS TO THE FLOOD VICTIMS.

Updated January 13, 2015 8:01 PM

Lawyers for homeowners in Long Beach and East Rockaway filed documents in federal court Tuesday saying they have uncovered two more instances of engineering companies forging reports to deny flood insurance settlements to superstorm Sandy victims.

The filing, in the Eastern District of New York, is the latest in a series of civil allegations accusing two firms, GEB HiRise of Uniondale and U.S. Forensic of Metairie, Louisiana, of secretly rewriting reports to blame damage on gradual long-term deterioration, rather than flooding. The move, lawyers say, was part of a broad scheme to deny homeowners thousands of dollars in coverage from the government-run National Flood Insurance Program.

HiRise and U.S. Forensic, which have denied wrongdoing, did not reply to requests for comment Tuesday.

The companies have now been accused of doctoring five reports for homes on Long Island and in Brooklyn after the 2012 storm. Lawyers for homeowners say they expect to file evidence of additional forgeries in the coming weeks.

Flood insurance is underwritten by the federal government, but FEMA hires private companies to administer policies and adjust claims. Lawyers for homeowners say the program encourages private insurers and engineers to lowball settlements by penalizing them for overpayments to homeowners -- but not for underpayments.

The allegations of forgeries have arisen from among the roughly 1,000 pending federal lawsuits filed by homeowners who say they were shortchanged on Sandy flood insurance settlements.

The New York State attorney general's office has opened a criminal probe. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which runs the National Flood Insurance Program, is undertaking its own investigation.

BUSINESS INTERRUPTION AND DISRUPTION TO SUPPLY CHAINS ARE AMONG THE MAIN GLOBAL RISKS ORGANIZATIONS WILL FACE IN 2015, ACCORDING TO THE NEW RISK BAROMETER REPORT FROM ALLIANZ.

BUSINESS INTERRUPTION AND DISRUPTION TO SUPPLY CHAINS ARE AMONG THE MAIN GLOBAL RISKS ORGANIZATIONS WILL FACE IN 2015, ACCORDING TO THE NEW RISK BAROMETER REPORT FROM ALLIANZ.

January 15, 2015

Business interruption and disruption to supply chains are among the main concerns organizations will face in 2015, according to the new Risk Barometer report from Allianz.

In a worldwide survey of more than 500 risk managers and insurance experts within Allianz and other global businesses, supply chain risk was ranked as a top concern by 46% of respondents. Natural catastrophes (30%) and fire and explosion (27%) were also ranked as top risks.

Natural catastrophes, such as earthquakes, proved to be a major concern for the engineering and construction sector. “BI (68%) continues to be the top risk with manufacturers even more concerned than 12 months ago (60%), driven by the fact that the potential for large claims in certain sectors such as semiconductor or automotive is increasing,” Allianz noted.

“Changes in legislation and regulation (33%) remains the top concern for financial services, reflecting increasing supervisory intervention around the globe. The shipping sector is concerned about intensified competition (29%), while theft (47%) worries the transportation industry.”

At 17% and 11% respectively, cyber and political risk were also considered greater risks this year than previously. Last year, cyber risk (including both crime and IT failure) ranked 8th, and in 2013, was at No. 15, while this year, it is considered a top five risk.

What’s more, in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, cyber risk was in the top three concerns.

Loss of reputation (61%) and business interruption (49%) are regarded as the main causes of economic loss following an incident, according to Allianz.

However, 73% of respondents suggests that companies are underestimating the impact of cyber breaches, and budgetary constraints remain a challenge.

“The growing interdependency of many industries and processes means businesses are now exposed to an increasing number of disruptive scenario,” Chris Fischer Hirs, CEO of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE (AGCS), the dedicated insurer for corporate and special risks of Allianz SE said in a statement on the survey results.

“Negative effects can quickly multiply. One risk can lead to several others. Natural catastrophes or cyber attacks can cause business interruption not only for one company, but to whole sectors or critical infrastructure.”

“Risk management must reflect this new reality. Identifying the impact of any interconnectivity early can mitigate or help prevent losses occurring. It is also essential to foster cross-functional collaboration within companies to tackle modern risks.”

DOZENS OF ACCIDENTS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA AS ROADS AND BRIDGES ICE OVER

DOZENS OF ACCIDENTS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA AS ROADS AND BRIDGES ICE OVER

Thursday, January 15, 2015 04:35AM 

RALEIGH (WTVD) --

There were so many accidents reported Wednesday morning on icy roads across the Triangle and central North Carolina it quickly got hard to keep track. In Raleigh alone, the city had nearly 40 - compared to about a dozen on a typical day. Freezing rain put a light glazing of ice mainly on bridges and elevated surfaces. Among the dozens of trouble spots reported were overpasses on I-540, Wade Avenue and some of the I-440 ramps, I-40, U.S. 70, Highway 64, I-795, and I-85.

On U.S. Highway 64 in Nash County, a tractor-trailer truck hit the car of a deputy helping a motorist in the Nashville area. Three people were injured, including Deputy Matthew Joyner, were rushed to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Two drivers were charged in connection with the crash.

On I-540 at Creedmoor Road, a multi-vehicle accident left one person hurt. Pictures from the scene showed a vehicle ran into a North Carolina Highway Patrol officer's car, causing minor damage.

A taxi ran off the road at Hebron Road at West Avenue in Durham and slammed into a tree. A black mustang was also involved in this wreck but there weren't any serious injuries. On Erwin Road, a car ran off the shoulder and down an embankment. It then crashed into a tree. The car suffered serious damage to the front end of the car. At least one person was injured.
In Orange County, the ice was too much for a fire truck that was responding to an accident when it lost traction and flipped onto its side.
In Chatham County, a pick-up truck lost control on U.S. Highway 64 over Jordan Lake. The driver ended up crashing into a guard rail on the median. He got out and called for help but ended up jumping back into his truck when he saw a tractor trailer swerving and coming right for him. No one was seriously injured in that collision.

On I-40 West on the bridge over Gorman Street, a Wake County Public Schools refueling truck overturned -- leaking a small amount of fuel -- creating a hazardous materials situation.

In Orange County, a fire truck responding to an accident flipped on its side on Phelps Road at Mason Keyon Road. All the firefighters got out without serious injuries.