Maritime News

Production halted after a fire broke out aboard Apache Corporation’s East Cameron 2 oil and natural gas platform. The fire left one contract worker dead.

 
The incident occurred at about 1:30 am on Wednesday, January 13. The processing platform is located two miles off Cameron Parish in south Louisiana. There were three workers aboard the platform at the time.

 
All three were rescued by a commercial vessel working in the area; however, 34-year-old Frank Richard of Mowata, Louisiana died after being transported to an area hospital. The other two men were treated and released.

 
The men were employees of Island Operating Company. The company, based in Lafayette, Louisiana, runs facilities for Apache and other energy companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico.

 
The U.S. Coast Guard and Louisiana State Police are working with Apache to assess the damage at the site. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

 
The Cameron 2 Processing platform processes about 7.7 million cubic feet of gas and 850 barrels of oil each day. It is one of over 4,000 oil and natural gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

 
In 2008, eleven workers died on offshore platforms. Those who work offshore are protected by the Jones Act and other maritime laws.  Contact the New Orleans maritime attorneys at The Young Firm to learn more.