Capsized vessel: One rescued alive, 11 still missing

The cook onboard the Chevron-chartered offshore vessel, Jascon 4 vessel, which capsized in the early hours on Sunday, has been found alive.

The vessel, owned by West African Ventures Limited, one of Chevron Nigeria Limited’s contractors, capsized on Sunday morning and the 12 man crew on board had been feared lost.

An upstreamonline.com report on Wednesday said the cook was found alive, adding that search was ongoing  for  11 other crew members, who were onboard the Jascon 4 anchor-handling tug when it capsized in heavy seas off Delta State on Sunday.

It had been feared that all 12 onboard the unit, which was assisting a tanker at the time of the sinking, had been lost.

However, a statement from Nigerian vessel owner, West African Ventures, which lists the tug in its fleet, confirmed the unlikely rescue of one crew member.

The firm said, “We are able to report that divers have found and identified one survivor, Mr Okene Harrison. He was the vessel’s cook and of Nigerian nationality.

“Harrison was medically examined and he is currently in a stable condition and under treatment on board the diving support vessel.”

A spokesperson for WAV-related company, Sea Trucks Group, confirmed to Upstream that Harrison had been found on Tuesday evening inside the vessel ,which had capsized but not sank.

The spokesperson was not willing to confirm or deny if any of the 11 remaining crew members had been sighted, however.

“The search and rescue operation will continue until all crew members are accounted for and we are in the meantime offering all support possible to the families of the missing crew members. We have also commenced a full investigation into the cause of the incident,” WAV added.

Chevron spokesman, Kurt Glaubitz, confirmed that a local unit of the United States supermajor, Chevron Nigeria Limited, had hired the vessel.

The company added, “Initial reports indicated that heavy ocean swells caused the Jascon 4 to capsize, while performing tension tow operations of the tanker at SBM 3.

 “Emergency response has commenced, including search and rescue operation with surface vessels, helicopters and divers.”

 CNL said the vessel sank while supporting a tanker loading at Single Mooring 3, a loading point 30 kilometres offshore in the Escravos area.

 The oil major also explained that initial reports indicated that heavy ocean swells caused the Jascon 4 to capsize, while performing tension tow operations of the tanker at SBM 3.

 “Chevron Nigeria Limited, operator of the NNPC/CNL Joint Venture, confirms that Jascon 4 vessel belonging to our contractor, West African Ventures Limited, capsized and sank early this morning (Sunday), while supporting a tanker loading at Single Buoy Mooring 3, a loading point 30km offshore in the Escravos area of Delta State, Nigeria,” it said.

-- Punch