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Saturday, Sep 17, 2005

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Panel to probe Bombay High fire

Special Correspondent

T.N.R. Rao heads independent committee

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday set up an independent enquiry committee to investigate into the major fire accident that occurred on ONGC's (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) Bombay High North processing platform on July 27 this year.

The high-level committee, headed by the former Petroleum Secretary, T.N.R. Rao, has been given six months' time to submit its report. The other members of the committee are S.C.N. Jatar, former Chairman, Oil India Limited (OIL) and the Director-General, Coast Guard (or a senior level nominee).

The enquiry panel will have to determine the circumstances leading to the mishap as also the adequacy of the response thereto by the ONGC staff.

The committee will also have to assess whether ONGC's multi-support vessel (MSV), Samudra Suraksha was seaworthy and whether both the MSV as well as the MHN complex had adequate safeguards and safety factors in accordance with international and Indian standards so as to ensure that the platform and sensitive equipment did not get damaged by vessels/rigs.

The committee will have to probe whether the certification procedures and safety audit practices followed were adequate to prevent such accidents in keeping with international norms and suggest corrective measures for the future.

Among other things, the committee will have to recommend action for improving the security of offshore oil and gas installations, including the coordination and inspection aspects of security arrangements. It will also review Oil and Natural Gas Corporation's emergency response capability, with particular reference to offshore fire and blowouts, and suggest measures to upgrade such capabilities.

While submitting the report, the committee will have to take into account and consider reports submitted by other agencies, statutory or otherwise, enquiring into the incident.

If deemed fit, it may take assistance from expert agencies, both in the Government as well as from outside.

After the major accident on the MHN processing platform on July 27, out of the 383 personnel on duty, 361 were rescued.

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