About 1100 c.s.t. on April 14, 1976, the self-elevating drilling unit OCEAN EXPRESS departed a drilling site in the Gulf of Mexico under tow for a new drilling site about 33 nmi away. The OCEAN EXPRESS arrived at the new drilling site about 2330, but was not set in place because of adverse seas. Three tugs held the OCEAN EXPRESS in position awaiting better weather, but the seas continued to increase. On April 15, one tug's starboard reduction gear failed, and another tug's towline broke. With only one effective tug remaining, the OCEAN EXPRESS turned broadside to the wind and seas, drifted, grounded, capsized, and sank about 2115. Thirteen persons drowned in a capsized survival capsule. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the complete loss of control of the OCEAN EXPRESS because of equipment failures on two of the three assisting tugs, which allowed the unit to turn broadside to the wind and seas, drift, ground, and capsize. Contributing to the accident was the lack of preparation for towing emergencies, the lack of complete information in the unit's operating manual, and the inaccuracy of the National Weather Service's weather forecasts. Contributing to the loss of life was the capsizing of the No. 3 survival capsule because of extreme wave action alone or in combination with tripping forces imparted by a small line attached to the rescue tug.


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    Title :

    Marine Accident Report - Capsizing and Sinking of the Self-Elevating Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit OCEAN EXPRESS Near Port O'Connor, Texas, April 15, 1976


    Publication date :

    1979


    Size :

    35 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English