FPSO EXPLOSION: NIMASA Leads Joint Investigation Team For Preliminary Assessment

On Feb 4, 2022

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA is leading a joint investigation team of regulatory agencies to ascertain the unfortunate explosion of Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO )Trinity Spirit at Ukpokiti terminals.

Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, who disclosed this on his verified facebook page on Friday noted that a combined team officials of the maritime apex regulatory body, NOSDRA, NUPRC and other relevant environmental agency from both Bayelsa and Ondo states will conduct preliminary assessment of the explosion.

According to him, this will be followed on Saturday by the crew of Marine Environment Management, Accident Investigation and Safety departments of NIMASA carry out on the spot assessment.

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Jamoh reiterated that the Agency remains alive to its Intenational Maritimw Organisation (IMO) obligation on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

The NIMASA further expressed sadness over disaster adding that “We regret the unfortunate loss of lives.”

His post reads thus “#MaritimeSafety. Following the unfortunate explosion of FPSO Trinity Spirit at the Ukpokiti Terminal, we have despatched a Joint Investigation Team of relevant agencies (NIMASA, NOSDRA, NUPRC (formerly DPR) and the Environmental agencies of Ondo and Bayelsa States for a preliminary assessment.

“This will be followed on Saturday by the crew of Marine Environment Management, Accident Investigation and Safety departments of NIMASA. The Agency remains alive to its IMO obligation on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

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“We regret the unfortunate loss of lives.”

The media was awash on Thursday, when it was reported that at least three oil workers have been feared dead after the FPSO vessel exploded on Wednesday in Delta State.

The incident occurred near Meren field, a North Field Oil Facility, owned by one of the multinational oil and gas companies operating along the Nigerian coastline.

More than 12 other persons were said to have been missing on Thursday morning .

It was gathered that the fire was still raging uncontrollably as at Thursday noon.

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According to the company in a release, “The facility, TRINITY SPIRIT, was built in 1976 (46 years ago), with a carrying capacity of 274774 Dead Weight Tonnage (DWT) and overall length of 337.05 meters as well as a width of 54.5 meters.

By Roland Ekama