Three Workers Killed After Lifeboat Falls From Petronas Offshore Unit in Malaysia

Malaysia’s state-owned energy company Petronas has confirmed the deaths of three contractor workers following a serious lifeboat accident aboard one of its offshore floating storage units in the South China Sea. 
 
The incident happened around 12:50 pm local time on Sunday on the Sepat floating storage offloading (FSO) unit, located approximately 130 km off the coast of Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. 
 
According to local authorities, four contractors were inside a lifeboat preparing to descend below the platform for maintenance work when the rope or hook securing the boat suddenly detached. The lifeboat then fell directly into the sea with all four workers onboard. 
 
Kuala Terengganu police chief assistant commissioner Azli Mohd Noor said rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the scene and managed to recover all four individuals from the water. The workers were later airlifted by helicopter to Sultan Mahmud Airport before being transferred to Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital for emergency medical treatment. 
 
Three of the workers were pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital, while the fourth worker suffered serious injuries and remains under medical observation. 
 
Petronas said investigations are now underway alongside the relevant authorities to determine exactly what caused the incident. The company also expressed its condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the victims, saying its immediate priority is to support all those impacted by the tragedy. 
 
Malaysian Prime Minister Seri Anwar Ibrahim also called for a full investigation, saying the government views the incident as serious and expects authorities to fully review the circumstances of the accident. He also underlined the importance of continuously strengthening workplace safety measures across industrial operations. 
 
Police have currently classified the case as a sudden death report while investigations continue. 
 
The Sepat FSO has been operating for more than a decade at the Sepat field, a shallow-water oil and gas field located in waters approximately 60 metres deep in the South China Sea. 
 
Earlier this year, Petronas awarded a 15-year charter to OceanSTAR Elite for the construction and deployment of a new FPSO as part of the Sepat Integrated Redevelopment Project. The future unit is expected to process up to 30,000 barrels of liquid per day once operational.