Three Dead in Platform Accident off Azerbaijan

Three workers died, with the fourth still missing, when the structures collapsed at the Socar’s platform No 441 of the Narimanov oil and gas production department (OGPD) in the Caspian Sea offshore Azerbaijan, Socar says in a written statement.

Socar goes on to say  that ”the structures collapsed during the repair works and a wagon-house fell into the sea, damaging and causing fire on a 700 mm pipeline on October 23.” 

In a separate statement issued  together with the Azeri Ministry of Emergency Situations, Socar has confirmed that ”the dead bodies of 3 of the 4 employees, missing after an accident at the faulty platform No 441 of the Narimanov oil and gas production department, have been found and taken to the shore by divers of SOCAR and Ministry of Emergency Situations.”

The accident happened at about 12:00 (local time) and was extinguished some 45 minutes later, according to Socar.

About 41 people were working at the site when the structures collapsed,  37 of which were evacuated from the incident site to the beach on Orion-15 and PSK-52 vessels.

The divers are still searching for the fourth worker.

World Maritime News