PSA to investigate diving bell incident offshore Norway
June 28, 2013
Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) is investigating an incident on the diving support vessel Skandi Arctic.
Offshore staff
OSLO, Norway – Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) is investigating an incident on the diving support vessel Skandi Arctic.
This occurred on June 22 during a manned subsea operation on the Marathon-operated Alvheim field in the Norwegian North Sea. Diving contractor Technip Norge was responsible for the operation.
A three-strong diving team was due to be transported in a diving bell to the work site on the seafloor in around 110 m (361 ft) of water.
During handling in the DSV’s moonpool, the bell underwent an uncontrolled drop of several meters, which led to its main umbilical being ripped loose.
Gas started escaping from the bell, but the divers quickly managed to shut all valves and stop the leak. A continued drop in pressure could have had fatal consequences, PSA said. No injuries resulted from the incident.
