Maritime News

Seventeen residents of Mexico filed a personal injury and wrongful death maritime lawsuit against four American companies, Gulf Coast Marine and Associates Inc., Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Halliburton Company, and Mathews-Daniel Company. The companies are being held accountable for an offshore oil platform explosion that killed 22 workers and injured 63.

 
On October 23, 2007, as a tropical storm was brewing, a mobile oil platform collided with a stationary platform in the Bay of Campeche, Mexico. The collision caused an uncontrollable oil and gas leak. The mobile oil platform exploded with 73 workers, employees of Petroleos Mexicanos, on board.

 
Employees donned lifejackets and began to board lifeboats; however, because of strong waves from the impending storm, the lifeboats began to collapse. Employees were 16 miles offshore for up to 20 hours awaiting rescue in pre-storm conditions. Many drowned at sea.

 
The employees allege that the American companies were negligent for failing to safely position the platform and for the lack of proper supervision, proper equipment, maintenance of equipment, timely rescue and for not considering updated sea-floor information when positioning the platform.   

 
Matthews-Daniel Company was involved in pre-construction risk-assessment and location approvals. Halliburton and Schlumberger Technology manufactured safety valves and sensors used on the platform. Gulf Coast Marine made the decision to tow the mobile platform despite an approaching storm. 

 
The lawsuit is seeking damages for post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, future pain and suffering, mental anguish, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, loss of companionship, maintenance and support, pre- and post-judgment interest, and attorney’s fees.

Loading

Get Your FREE
Injury Toolkit

Our Qualifications