BOURBON Fined for Rig Accident

Tragic accident results in corporate fine.

The Norwegian division of the French based operator, BOURBON Offshore, has been fined about $750,000 for the April 2007 accident which killed eight people including the captain’s 14-year old son.

The AHST “BOURBON DOLPHIN” capsized while working an anchor on a Transocean rig approximately 75-miles from Shetland. While investigators cannot determine if the accident was technical or human error, the vessel operator was brought to task concerning the time frame of the replacement captain, who had arrived on the bridge of the vessel approximately one hour and a half before the work commenced.

However, the captain was one of the most experienced in the BOURBON Offshore fleet. Additionally, the company builds its vessels in series, which means captains and crews work on similar ship configurations. Other news sources have blamed the company for not allowing the replacement captain time to familiarize himself with the ship. But, within the framework of a series of ships, there is little for replacement crew to familiarize themselves with. While, the captain had recently flown in from West Africa, he was basically working the ship in his home waters.

Bourbon Offshore Norway has five days to accept the penalty or to contest it.