Offshore staff
NEW DELHI, India – Cyclone Tauktae in the Arabian Sea has impacted ONGC’s operations off the coast of Mumbai, western India.
The storm struck early on Monday morning in an area where the company’s major offshore production installations and drilling rigs are concentrated. Wind speeds approached 150-180 km/hr (93-112 mi/hr), with 6-8-m (19.7-26-ft) high waves.
Three M/s Afcons construction barges working on a project in the Western Offshore fields and one ONGC drillship were the main facilities affected. ONGC, which is working with the Offshore Defence Advisory Group and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre to ensure the safety of personnel and vessels, issued the following update:
- Barge Papaa-305: The cyclone and high sea swell caused the anchors to give way, causing the vessel to start drifting. Two Indian Navy vessels, one Afcons tug boat and one ONGC offshore supply vessel (OSV) were on location yesterday undertaking rescue operations, with three more ONGC OSVs and two multi-purpose support vessels also joining the effort.
- Barge Support Station-3: Anchors of the barge gave away, with the vessel drifting northwest, but since brought under control, with no water ingress. Two ONGC OSVs were sailing to the area to help.
- Barge Gal Constructor is drifting at Colaba Point with water ingress in the engine room. Coast Guard vessel ICG Samrat and Mumbai Port Trust vessel Water Lily were at the location providing rescue and support.
- The drillship Sagar Bhushan lost its anchors and started drifting north. Four ONGC charter-hired vessels at the location for rescue operations, to be joined by two MSVs and the ICGS Shoor.
05/19/2021
