Working Conditions Aboard the Detector

On January 17, 2016, during cargo transfer operations in the North Atlantic’s White Rose Oilfield, the 'Maersk Detector' encountered a significant incident when an empty 1.3-ton cargo container was accidentally dropped. The mishap occurred while the container was being hoisted onto the oil production ship 'SeaRose FPSO' and became entangled with another similarly sized container. Following the incident, cargo operations were promptly halted, and several precautionary measures were implemented to mitigate risks to the surrounding subsea infrastructure. Husky Energy, the operator of the oil production process, has initiated an investigation to determine the underlying causes of this incident.

The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has published a detailed report regarding the collision between the Maersk Detector and the GSF Grand Banks, which occurred off the coast of Newfoundland on November 24, 2011. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported; however, both the drilling rig and the ship sustained damage that necessitated repairs. The investigation revealed shortcomings in the teamwork among bridge officers, highlighting their failure to fully utilize available navigational data to maintain a safe distance from the rig. Notably, a proper risk assessment was not performed by the crew, and cargo loading was allowed to proceed without implementing necessary risk-control measures. One critical finding emphasized that there was no established protocol for relaying essential weather updates. Consequently, the vessel and crane operators were unaware that the significant wave height had exceeded safety limits, warranting a halt in operations. In response to these findings, Maersk Supply Service Canada has introduced several safety enhancements, including targeted training sessions, stop work triggers, and upgrades to voyage data recorder software. Likewise, Husky has taken proactive steps, granting direct access to a weather service provider's website for real-time weather updates and instituting annual third-party competency assessments and training requirements for their personnel. The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) has called for revisions to the Marine Operations Manual, Safety Case, and Emergency Response Plan associated with the GSF Grand Banks. Transocean is currently addressing these requests, while the offshore regulatory authority conducts audits of both the rig and the Maersk Detector to ensure compliance with safety standards.

The drilling operation for an oil well off the coast of Newfoundland has safely been put on hold following an incident involving the 'Maersk Detector' colliding with the 'Grand Banks' rig. Husky Energy is currently evaluating whether to relieve some of the 90-person crew, although a core team will remain onboard. The specifics of the collision, in which the supplier vessel unintentionally struck a steel column, are still being assessed, particularly with respect to the challenging weather conditions at the time, which included rough seas measuring between four to six meters. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, nor any environmental impacts. However, the 'Grand Banks' rig sustained a significant gash measuring 4x5 meters, accounting for roughly 20 percent of the column's overall circumference. Earlier plans for maintenance scheduled in January will likely be expedited, though no exact timeline has been provided. The 'Grand Banks' rig, operated by international drilling contractor Transocean and contracted to Husky, was engaged in a water injection drilling operation for oil located approximately 120 meters deep, over 300 kilometers east of St. John’s.