Maritime News

A New York Times article reports that just weeks before the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion, a confidential survey of offshore workers on the rig showed that many of them were concerned about poor maintenance and safety practices, but feared reprisals if they reported mistakes or other problems.

 
The survey was commissioned by the oil rig’s owner, Transocean. The workers brought up the concerns about unsafe behaviors on the rig and poor equipment reliability.  It was conducted by a division of Lloyd’s Register Group, a maritime and risk-management organization.

 
A separate equipment assessment also commissioned by Transocean, showed that many key components on the rig, including the blowout preventer rams and failsafe valves, had not had a full inspection since 2000. Guidelines require inspection of the preventer every three to five years. The report listed at least 26 components and systems in “bad” or “poor” condition.

 
The two reports may be used to determine liability for the April 20 explosion, which killed 11 offshore workers.

 
To learn more about the rights of offshore workers injured on the job, call Louisiana maritime attorneys at The Young Firm, 1-866-938-6113.

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