One person was injured after a crane detached from its pedestal during routine lifting operations aboard Perenco’s Samaan Alpha Drilling Platform off the southeast coast of Trinidad, the company has confirmed.
The incident occurred at approximately 4 p.m. on October 14, according to information provided by Perenco to the Trinidad Express. The company said its emergency response team was activated immediately after the crane became detached, with personnel on the platform and support vessels mobilised to respond.
Perenco confirmed that the injured individual was stabilised before being evacuated to a medical facility onshore in Trinidad, accompanied by a company medic. The person was resting and expected to make a full recovery, the company said.
Energy and Energy Industries Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal also confirmed that the ministry had been informed of the incident on Wednesday. In a response to the Trinidad Express, he said Perenco had advised that the crane operator was safely rescued and transported ashore for medical assessment and treatment.
Moonilal said the company had reported no other personnel affected by the incident. Perenco also stated that the safety and well-being of its personnel remained a priority.
The company notified the relevant regulatory authorities, and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crane’s detachment is ongoing. The ministry is maintaining contact with Perenco and monitoring developments, the minister said.
Perenco is also making arrangements to secure and recover the affected crane equipment safely. The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances of the incident and help establish how the equipment became detached from its pedestal.
The available information does not identify the cause of the failure or indicate whether any wider operational disruption occurred. No further details about the injured worker were provided.
The incident places attention on the response to an equipment failure during offshore lifting operations, with the worker’s expected recovery offering a positive development while the investigation continues.