MUMBAI: A crucial aspect that affected survivability of passengers after the Pawan Hans helicopter ditched into the sea was the unserviceability of essential equipment at the ONGC rig, said the final probe report into accident released on Monday.
The Sagar Kiran rig is equipped with two lifeboats which are installed on the port and starboard side of the rig. These lifeboats have a capacity of 50 each and are to be used for evacuation from the rig in case of an emergency. “A rescue boat is also available on the rig, but it was informed to the investigation team that the rescue boat was not serviceable since (sic) last one year and hence the lifeboat was designated to be used as rescue boat as well. As per technical specifications, it can be used as a rescue boat with capacity restricted to 6 persons,” the report said. But on the day of accident, the lifeboat was deployed with a rescue team of eight persons towards the helicopter.
The team noticed two passengers drifting in the sea in an apparently unconscious state and one passenger struggling in the sea. “The team rushed to rescue him. As they did not observe any movement by two unconscious persons, no further attempt was made to pull them with help rope, buoys or stick,” it said.
“The sea state at that time was stated to be rough with tides reaching approximately 2-3 m, causing the rescuers to get seasick. The rescue boat did not go back to the helicopter as they feared that debris from helicopter may damage the rescue boat. After rescuing one passenger, they headed back to the rig,” it said. “As per the statements of the crew, who were waiting to be rescued, they were surprised when the rescue boat started going back to the rig and tried to draw their attention. One of the crew even attempted to swim towards the rescue boat, but swam back to the helicopter when there was no response from the rescue boat,” it said. On July 13, 2022, TOI had carried a report about delay in rescue by ONGC which cost four lives.
The Sagar Kiran rig had other malfunctioning equipment as well. “Equipment for preserving VHF communication recordings at Sagar Kiran rig were not serviceable, but there was no mention of it in the daily Equipment Serviceability Report. Anemometer, which measures wind speed and direction, was reported as not functioning properly, but corrective action was taken only in November 2022,” the report said.
The Sagar Kiran rig is equipped with two lifeboats which are installed on the port and starboard side of the rig. These lifeboats have a capacity of 50 each and are to be used for evacuation from the rig in case of an emergency. “A rescue boat is also available on the rig, but it was informed to the investigation team that the rescue boat was not serviceable since (sic) last one year and hence the lifeboat was designated to be used as rescue boat as well. As per technical specifications, it can be used as a rescue boat with capacity restricted to 6 persons,” the report said. But on the day of accident, the lifeboat was deployed with a rescue team of eight persons towards the helicopter.
The team noticed two passengers drifting in the sea in an apparently unconscious state and one passenger struggling in the sea. “The team rushed to rescue him. As they did not observe any movement by two unconscious persons, no further attempt was made to pull them with help rope, buoys or stick,” it said.
“The sea state at that time was stated to be rough with tides reaching approximately 2-3 m, causing the rescuers to get seasick. The rescue boat did not go back to the helicopter as they feared that debris from helicopter may damage the rescue boat. After rescuing one passenger, they headed back to the rig,” it said. “As per the statements of the crew, who were waiting to be rescued, they were surprised when the rescue boat started going back to the rig and tried to draw their attention. One of the crew even attempted to swim towards the rescue boat, but swam back to the helicopter when there was no response from the rescue boat,” it said. On July 13, 2022, TOI had carried a report about delay in rescue by ONGC which cost four lives.
The Sagar Kiran rig had other malfunctioning equipment as well. “Equipment for preserving VHF communication recordings at Sagar Kiran rig were not serviceable, but there was no mention of it in the daily Equipment Serviceability Report. Anemometer, which measures wind speed and direction, was reported as not functioning properly, but corrective action was taken only in November 2022,” the report said.