By Steve Agbota
Shebah Exploration & Production Company Limited (SEPCOL) has said that three out of the ten crew members have been found alive on board it’s offshore facility, FPSO Trinity Spirit, engulfed in fire in the early hours of last week Wednesday following an explosion.
The management also said that a dead body was recovered from the vicinity, although the identity is yet to be established.
In a statement signed by Ikemefuna Okafor, chief executive officer (CEO), said the members would receive appropriate medical attention.
The floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel named ‘Trinity Spirit’ exploded last Wednesday. The investigation team are yet to ascertain the cause of the incident.
The company had said ten crew members were onboard the facility when the incident occurred.
Providing an update on the incident on Sunday, Okafor said the team also discovered one yet-to-identified dead body in the vicinity of the FPSO.
“We can confirm that three crew members have been found alive in the community and our priority is to ensure that they receive the appropriate medical attention they need. Furthermore, in the early hours of Sunday, February 6, 2022, one dead body was discovered in the vicinity of the FPSO. The identity of the dead body is yet to be ascertained,” the statement added.
“As earlier confirmed, the fire burnt out completely as of Thursday afternoon, 3rd Feb. 2022, thus enabling closer inspection of the vessel. A Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) with the relevant authorities, stakeholders and expert organisations took place on Saturday, February 5, 2022.
“The focus of our joint efforts is to prioritise investigations towards establishing the whereabouts, safety, and security of the seven crew members still missing, clean up and limit damage to the environment, and establish the cause of the explosion.
“We appreciate the assistance provided by the Clean Nigeria Associates, the Chevron team, NOSDRA, NUPRC, SPDC, NIMASA and people in the community, particularly the fishermen, who have been of immense assistance since the incident occurred,” the statement reads.
The company said advised members of the public should continue to keep away from the area while itsCrisis Management Team monitors developments in the investigations and update all stakeholders with new information accordingly.
On Saturday, the company in a statement said the fire burnt out completely and that a joint team with the relevant authorities, stakeholders and expert organisations have commenced investigations into the incident.