Offshore Rig Collapses Off Trinidad Coast Leaving 1 Worker Injured & Another Missing

A 42-year-old rig, Rig 110, collapsed off the coast of Trinidad on Sunday morning leaving one worker missing and another injured. The incident occurred at about 3:00 a.m. while the rig was drilling at the Heritage Offshore East Field.

The rig was built by Trinity Beaumont in Beaumont, Texas, in 1981.

At the time of the collapse, 75 workers were on board. One worker was seriously injured during the collapse and is receiving medical care, with reports saying that the individual is in stable condition now.

However, 45-year-old Pete Phillip is still missing, and search efforts to locate him are underway.

His wife, Candacy, spoke to local media, expressing concern for her husband’s safety as their children anxiously await his return, especially since he was expected home by Christmas.

The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, along with the cutter TTS Port of Spain, OSV Atlantic Star, and eight other support vessels, have been deployed to search for Phillip.

Dive operations are also underway to search the submerged wreckage.

Following the collapse, the rig was evacuated, and all other personnel were safely removed. Heritage Petroleum Company, the operator of the field, has set up an incident command centre at its marine base in Point Fortin.

The team, consisting of 25 staff members, has been providing support for the evacuation and continues to monitor the situation using drone surveillance.

The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries has confirmed that an investigation is underway. Energy Minister Stuart Young visited the Trinmar Marine Base to receive updates and offer support to Phillip’s family.

A full-scale investigation will be conducted to understand the cause of the collapse. Well Services Limited, which operates Rig 110, confirmed the incident in a statement.

The company also dismissed false reports circulating on social media that claimed Phillip had been found. Well Services said that they are providing support to Phillip’s family during this difficult time.

Phillip has worked in offshore positions for over 20 years. His family, especially his brother Brent Phillip, expressed frustration over the lack of information and called for a thorough investigation.

Brent pointed out concerns about safety protocols, referencing the 2022 Paria Fuel diving tragedy, where several workers died due to a similar incident.

The Ministry of Energy has assured that it is fully supporting the response efforts and overseeing the investigation to ensure that future incidents are prevented.

The collapsed rig is the largest offshore rig of Well Services Limited.

References: Oil Now, Guardian

Source: Maritime Shipping News