© Bourbon

Bourbon Offshore has announced that at 5.25am European time on June 26th, Athena, one of Bourbon’s fleet of multi-purpose supply vessels (MPSVs) operating under contract to Total E&P Congo reported what the company described as “a technical incident” provoking entry of water in the engine room.

The ship was 15 nautical miles off the coast of Congo, in transit between the Likouala and East Tchibouela fields at the time.

Emergency procedures were put in place and the ship’s anchor was dropped dropped and the engine compartments were shut off.

The 63 people on board (26 crew members and 37 technicians) were immediately evacuated to a Total barge situated in the vicinity.

Athena was then towed by Achille, a Bourbon AHTS which is also under contract to Total E&P Congo, to Pointe Noire.

No pollution has been reported as a result of the incident and pumping was started, with the intention of towing the ship to a dry-dock for repair.

However, on June 27th, Bourbon said that due to poor weather conditions, pumping and water tightness operations had been stopped with the ship resting on a sandy bed at a depth of 10m and listing by more than 50°. “No lives are at risk,” said Bourbon.

Smit Salvage has been contracted to proceed with operations to salvage the vessel and operations are already under way.

Athena is a Vik-Sandvik-designed VS 4501 MPSV.

Source: Offshore Shipping Online

Tags : Bourbon Offshore, MPSV, flooding