KUALA LUMPUR – The Panama-registered Naga 7 offshore oil rig has sunk in Sarawak waters, reported the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.
However, the 101 rig crew members have been rescued and taken ashore before the sinking, it added.
On Monday, the agency confirmed that the rig had sunk in Sarawak waters, some 139 nautical miles from Miri.
The Velesto Energy Bhd-owned oil rig reported that the incident happened while it was carrying out preloading works and one of the legs of the rig buckled, tilting the structure.
A total of 101 crew members were saved using the OSV Perdana Marathon and Armada Tuah 305 before the rig sank at a depth of almost 100m, it added.
It said 85 crew members arrived at Serimas Jetty in Miri at 10am yesterday, and all of them are undergoing the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
The remaining 16 workers arrived at the same jetty at 10.35am today.
Following the incident, the state Marine Department has issued a notice to Marines on the current situation of the Naga 7.
Neither injury nor oil spill have been reported, said the department.
The department is in the process of marking a virtual buoy in the area to ensure the shipping community does not use the route for now.
An investigation team has also been set up to find out the cause of the incident. – The Vibes, May 5, 2021
