MIRI – Some 101 workers have been rescued and taken ashore from a tilting oil rig off Bintulu.
It is learnt that the staff were evacuated by the private company that was operating the facility. The Vibes was told that the rescue operation did not involve the maritime agencies in Sarawak.
“The offshore facility was prospecting for oil,” said a source. “It is owned by a subcontractor of an oil company. The platform tilted to one side yesterday and the crew had to be evacuated.
“The owners of the oil-drilling rig carried out the evacuation and rescue operations by themselves. There was no official report or request for help from them.”
Social media postings showed pictures of the rig called Naga 7 tilting to its side since yesterday. There was no immediate indication of what had caused the incident.
It is said that most of the crew members are Malaysians, mainly from Sarawak.
There are no reports of injuries or casualties. – The Vibes, May 4, 2021
