One worker dies after Saipem pipe-layer blast in Caspian Sea

One worker has died following last week’s fire on the Saipem-owned pipe-laying vessel which, at the time of the incident, was operating in the Caspian Sea offshore Azerbaijan. 

In a statement sent to Offshore Energy Today on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Saipem said that “one person who has been in most critical condition has passed away in the hospital of France this morning.”

The spokesperson added that no other injured worker is in life-threatening condition.

To remind, Saipem’s Israfil Huseynov vessel caught fire last Wednesday, May 8, while it was working on pipelaying at the Shah Deniz II project. The incident was related to maintenance operations on an item of equipment during pipe-laying activities.

As a result of the explosion, 14 people were injured, all employees of the Saipem Group. Seven of the fourteen injured workers were placed in intensive care.

According to information provided by Saipem, all injured personnel was transferred on May 11 to the specialized hospitals of Turkey, Italy, France, and the UK. Three other less injured persons – who were able to travel independently – have also reached their home countries.

The Israfil Huseynov is a pipe-laying barge owned by Caspian Marine Services. The vessel was built in 1988 in Mantyluoto, Finland.

Offshore Energy Today Staff

Spotted a typo? Have something more to add to the story? Maybe a nice photo? Contact our editorial team via email.

Offshore Energy Today, established in 2010, is read by over 10,000 industry professionals daily. We had nearly 9 million page views in 2018, with 2.4 million new users. This makes us one of the world’s most attractive online platforms in the space of offshore oil and gas and allows our partners to get maximum exposure for their online campaigns. 

If you’re interested in showcasing your company, product or technology on Offshore Energy Today contact our marketing manager Mirza Duran for advertising options.