Lok Sabha Question No. 3746 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Explosion on a Drilling Ship
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY

## Explosion on a Drilling Ship

## 3746. SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

## पैट्रोलियम व प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री

## Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  a  blast  occurred  on  the  ONGC-owned  oil  ship  which  was  undergoing repairs  at  the  Cochin  Shipyard  recently  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the number of workers killed/ injured in the said blast;

(b) whether any preliminary investigation has been conducted to find out the cause of the said blast;

(c) if so, the details and the findings thereof along with the responsibilities if any, fixed in this regard; and

(d) the details of compensation paid/ assistance given to workers killed/injured in the blast and the steps taken by the Government  to  avoid recurrence of such accidents/incidents in future?

## ANSWER

## पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री ( श्री धमेन्द्र प्रधान )

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARAMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a). A fire accident occurred in Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) on 13 th February, 2018 in a mobile offshore drilling  unit  named  'Sagar  Bhushan'  of  Oil  and  Natural  Gas Corporation (ONGC), which was undergoing dry dock repairs at CSL.  Five workmen died and nine workmen were injured in this incident. Among the deceased, one was permanent employee of CSL and four were contractual workmen. Two of the injured were  permanent  employee  of  CSL  and  the  remaining  seven  were  contractual workmen.

(b)  &  (c). A  high  level  enquiry  into  the  incident  was  ordered  by  the  Chairman  and Managing  Director,  CSL.  An  enquiry  was  also  ordered  by  Factories  and  Boilers Directorate, Govt. of Kerala. The state police are also investigating the incident. Apart from  this,  based  on  a  request  from  ONGC,  Director  (Exploration  and  Production), Offshore Industry Safety Directorate, also visited and inspected the site. As per the preliminary assessment, the accident was caused by a momentary explosion of high impact in the air conditioner compartment of the forward area under living quarters of the vessel, where there was a suspected acetylene gas leak.

(d). The  details  of  compensation  paid/being  paid  to  the  injured  and  the  family  of deceased persons are as follows: (A) for the deceased :  (i)  Rs. 10 Lakhs paid to the family, in addition to the statutory compensation and insurance relief as applicable to them; (ii) appropriate employment  on compassionate grounds to any eligible dependant of the deceased; (iii) appropriate financial aid towards the education of the children  of  the  deceased,  up  to  and  including  graduate  level;  and  (iv)  Rs.  25,000/disbursed to defray the expenses related to the funeral and other rituals and (B) for the injured : (i) treatment expenses incurred for the injured; (ii) amount equivalent to 2 months normal wages, and (iii) CSL to disburse wages to the injured till they return to work, in addition to the statutory compensation relief.

After the findings of enquiry report, corrective remedial steps would be taken by CSL to avoid recurrence of such accidents/incidents in future.

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