Malaysian state energy company Petronas has confirmed that three contractors were killed after a lifeboat detached and fell into the sea during maintenance operations at the Sepat FSO offshore oil storage facility off the coast of Malaysia.
The incident occurred at approximately 12:50 local time on Sunday at the offshore unit located around 130 kilometers from Kuala Terengganu in the South China Sea.
According to local police, four contractors were inside the lifeboat preparing to descend beneath the platform for maintenance work when a cable or hook securing the craft reportedly failed. The lifeboat then plunged into the sea with all four workers onboard.
Emergency response teams were quickly deployed to the scene and rescued all four individuals from the water. The injured workers were airlifted to Sultan Mahmud Airport before being rushed to Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital for emergency treatment.
Three workers were pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, while the surviving contractor sustained serious injuries and remains under medical supervision.
Petronas stated that an investigation is underway in cooperation with the relevant authorities and expressed its “deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased.”
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called for a thorough investigation into the tragedy and stressed the importance of continuously strengthening offshore workplace safety measures to protect workers.
Police have currently classified the case as a sudden death investigation pending further findings.
The Sepat FSO has operated at the Sepat field for more than a decade. Earlier this year, Petronas signed a 15-year agreement for the construction of a new FPSO unit for the Sepat redevelopment project, designed to process up to 30,000 barrels of liquids per day.
