Boskalis: One Dead, Five Sick on FPSO

Dutch dredging and offshore contractor Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. has confirmed that one contract worker is dead and five were seriously injured after consuming a ‘toxic’ cleaning liquid on board a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel destined for Brazil.

The incident occurred earlier this week on board an FPSO which is currently in transit between China and Brazil, towed by the Vanguard semi-submersible heavy lift ship.

Six persons employed by the designated contractor, all with the Brazilian nationality, illegally consumed a cleaning liquid found on board of the FPSO, it said.

"This liquid is a substance customarily used for degreasing purposes, presumably containing a mixture of ethanol and the severely toxic methanol. The affected persons reported this to our crew approximately 36 hours after consumption at which point serious signs of illness were becoming apparent. Swift and immediate action was taken by our crew," said a press release from the maritime services provider.

The Vanguard changed course towards the coast of South Africa and a medical evacuation by helicopter was organized. Regrettably one of the affected individuals passed away before the medical assistance was on site. The remaining five persons were successfully evacuated, hospitalized in Durban, South Africa and are successfully recovering from the intoxication.

"Boskalis expresses its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased person. Boskalis would like to stress that it has a strict zero tolerance policy with regard to alcohol on its offshore vessels," it said.

The FPSO and Vanguard have recently resumed their journey to Brazil.