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Incidents List

  1. Year Month Day Surname Forenames Location Contractor Client Depth Type of Diving Details
  2. 2008 8 7 Perines Bernardo Garcia Chile Pesquara San Jose Aged 37, recovering a capsised boat at a fish farm
  3. 2008 8 5 Nalin Indonesia Fisherman S/S Air Aged 60, Tidung Island, suffered leg paralysis fom decompression incident and died a week later. Reported as being a 'compressor' diver (Used a tyre compressor for diving), survived by his wife, four sons and three daughters. Reported by www.pulauseribu.net
  4. 2008 8 3 Leduc Lt. Gerald R USA Fireman SCUBA American, aged 52, commencing a SAR dive (missing boater), apparent heart attack. A NIOSH investigation revealed a blood alcohol level of 0.25 (Rhode Island state law defines legal intoxication at 0.08 percent) and that he ignored two colleagues who urged him not to dive. Underlying cardiac condition, but the medical examiner found that “acute intoxication� contributed to his death (“primarily attributed to physical condition and inadequate capacity to perform a technical SCUBA diving operation�). He was off duty when he responded to the incident at Stafford Pond with his personal watercraft and dive gear, moments after he began his dive, firefighters in a nearby boat noticed a diver's tank valve floating on the surface of the water and radioed a mayday call. Divers were unable to resuscitate him after pulling him from the water, and he was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The medical examiner found that he likely died from abnormal heart activity and had an enlarged heart, high blood pressure and an acute blood ethanol level of 0.25 percent. NIOSH investigators recommended a number of measures including a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol, developing written policies and procedures to enforce the zero-tolerance policy, putting in place an effective incident management system that supports technical rescue operations, properly training, equipping, and supporting public safety divers, ensuring a safety officer properly trained in the technical rescue field being performed is on scene and integrated into the command structure, appropriate annual diver medicals, fitness programmes. NBC News
  5. 2008 7 27 Spencer William USA BIDCO 20 American, aged 42, working off the construction barge "Lone Star Horizon" (a 314' ong construction barge) on the Neptune LNG project (terminal and pipeline) 12 miles offshore Massachusetts. BIDCO (Buffalo Industrial Diving Company) were subcontractors to Caldive. Diver replacing air hose on stinger, reported difficulty breathing, stand-by divers brought him to the surface, CPR, medivac to hospital, later declared dead, heart attack.
  6. 2008 7 26 Not Recorded S/S Air Shell safety flash, complete failure of stand-by diver basket main lift wire, basket caught by clump weight. Report in preparation
  7. 2008 7 24 Fournier Christophe France Hydrokarst S/S Air French, aged 39, Marseilles port, cutting up a sunken boat, underwater oxy/arc explosion
  8. 2008 7 16 Huenante Samuel Arturo Nahuelhuaique Chile Fish Farm Chilean aged 38, Samuel Arturo Nahuelhuaique Huenante died after diving on a Mainstream salmon farm in Calaco near Calbuco, south of Puerto Montt. Dive should not have taken place (The port was closed for diving operations by the authorities for bad weather). According to the Santiago-based NGO Ecoceanos, he was the 56th salmon industry worker to perish in the past two and a half years (includes 17 divers), he was the 5th diver to be killed in 2008. Overall the industry employs an estimated 4,000 such divers. No details Patagonia Times
  9. 2008 6 21 Not Recorded UK Northern Divers 20 S/S Air Taken from the MAIB report 3/2009 “A diver entered the water from the Belgium registered self-propelled crane barge Norma order to replace a line marking the position of the wreck of a German submarine which had been sunk during World War One off the ‘Varne’ bank in the Dover Strait (Salvage operation to reposition the wreck as it represented a hazard to deep hulled vessels). As the diver descended to a depth of about 20m, the umbilical cord containing an air supply became entangled in the vessel’s aft Voith Schneider propeller, and the diver was dragged towards its rotating blades. The diver’s air supply was also pulled from the deck but the diver succeeded in transferring to a bottled air supply before it severed. The diver was approximately 3m from the rotating propeller when the propeller was stopped by the vessel’s chief engineer. The diver then managed to cut himself free and make his way to the surface from where he was recovered without injury. The investigation identified a number of factors which contributed to this hazardous incident, including: • control system for the vessel’s propulsion had recently been installed, and no procedures for its use had been developed and no familiarisation training had been provided. • the OOW nor the master verified that the propellers were stopped or informed the engine room that diving operations were about to take place. • procedures for diving operations in the vessel’s safety management system lacked detail and were not sufficiently robust. They placed an undue reliance on the effectiveness of procedures followed by the embarked diving contractor. • operations had not been identified as a key shipboard operation by the ship manager or by external audit. “ Full report available from MAIB
  10. 2008 6 20 Johnstone Christopher UK RN 6 SCUBA British RN reservist, aged 42, UK Navy diver training establishment, Horsea island, fell ill during training dive (casualty recovery drill). Initial reports indicated natural causes (heart attack) but at the inquest a pathologist who specialises in diving accidents said the immediate cause of death was a rupture in the lungs, due to failure to breathe out on the ascend to the surface. “He perhaps didn't breathe the gas out at the time. That's the only possible explanation�.
  11. 2008 6 20 Not Recorded Canada S/S Air Lake Eyrie, 4 man dive team out of Port Colborn, well head location dive, live boating Captain told tender he was going to manoeuvre the boat, tender made no umbilical adjustment, when propeller was started it severed the umbilical. Both engines shut down, diver ascended safely on bail-out. Excessive umbilical in the water
  12. 2008 6 19 Nasca Michele Italy SCUBA Paraphrased from various press reports- “An amateur diver aged 57 diving with his brother 'died after coming into contact with the suction pump connected to a dock.' ' The body, horribly mutilated, and was recovered by police divers.' 'The judiciary is investigating the hypothesis that there is no protection grill on the turbine plant.'
  13. 2008 6 12 Qadar R. N. Abdul UAE SCUBA Kenyan, married with two children Gulf-news: Quote at the time :Sharjah: “A scuba diver working on a ship at Hamriya Port was killed while checking the ship's engine. The engineer was unaware that the scuba diver was working and switched on the engine, causing the scuba diver to get caught between the propeller blades. Police were unable to find most of the body parts and gave up the search after three days. The people involved in the incident were arrested, including an engineer and two assistants, who claimed that it was an accident and that they had no intention of killing him�. The Ukrainian engineer on the supply vessel 'Orel' who started the engine was found responsible and fined £34,000 'blood money' even though he claimed that he did not know the diver was in the water and had been instructed to start the engine by the chief engineer. Xpress online Note. The Ukrainian marine engineer was prevented from leaving Sharjah until he paid about US$73,000 “diya�, blood money, and a Dh6,000 fine. “I’m very sorry for the death of the man, who I know has two children. I feel for them as I am also a father of two,� He said the accident – which took place when he started the main engine – was not solely his fault as he was ordered by the chief engineer to start it not knowing Abdul Qader was still working astern. “Due to incomplete and inaccurate information and the lack of a translator [during court hearings], all responsibility was laid on me. I am not in a position to pay the amount. I cannot get a job as I don’t have my documents. My wife in Ukraine earns just $120 (Dh440) a month. He started working for the Sharjah-based Whitesea Shipping Company and Supply LLC in March 2007. “I haven’t seen my family since then. I want nothing more than to be home with them,� In August 2009, he received help from the local Russian speaking community, and was allowed home.
  14. 2008 6 9 Plaian Catalin Romania Military Paraphrased from reports:- “A military diver aged 36 died on Monday morning at Constanta County Emergency Hospital. Fleet Command in Constanta said they could not yet provide details of the circumstances in which he was injured. He said that he was in training at sea and the ship returned to port. The injured diver brought to shore and taken by ambulance to Hospital but could not be saved. Doctors said the diver has died after a cardio-respiratory arrest and that he had a severe acute head trauma. 

Health professionals say that the first information received shows that the diver was submerged in water and was injured in collision between two boats. Reported in Realitatea.net. Alternate press reports:- “Divers torn to pieces by a propeller. A military diver aged 36 died and three others were injured yesterday morning during a training exercise at sea outside the port of Constanta. It seems that the tragedy took place after an inflatable boat did not respond to commands and simply passed over a similar one, in which there were many divers. He was married, had a 2 year old daughter and had served under the banner of the Romanian Navy for almost 10 years�. Reported by Libertatea Romania.
  15. 2008 6 2 Santibanez Roberto Orlando Chile Fish Farm Chilean, aged 43. Died after diving on a fish farm near Chonchi, on the island of Chiloé. After morning work, the diver went to his cottage for a nap but after lunch was found lying on his bed cyanotic, taken to hospital but died. Initially the company had claimed that the diver had died in his cabin hours after diving to 5 metres and the Navy reported that the person had not died as a result of diving. However, an investigation by the Provincial Labour Inspectorate concluded that this was a diving accident. The state agency fined the company 180 UTM (5.5 million pesos) for various breaches of the Labour Code. However, an investigation of the Provincial Labour Chiloé determined that it was an industrial accident,:- They did not have the authorization granted by the Maritime Authority for diving work at the Cucao center, the company had not established a series of mandatory measures (there was no contingency plan), the head of center had no safety training for managers of floating fish farms and the center did not have a monthly schedule of activities. The company was additionally fined because the center where the fatal accident occurred "does not have checklists before and after the teams involved in the tasks of diving and non-compliance of planning risk training (Non compliance with audit dated one month earlier). No details of the accident. Chilean press reports elcuidadano.cl
  16. 2008 6 1 Le Sauteur Peter UK Alderney Marine Trust SCUBA Aged 55, Surveying the wreck of an Elizabethan gunship that sank in 1592 with a view to recovering two cannon. Fell ill after finishing a dive, unconscious, taken to hospital but pronounced dead.
  17. 2008 6 1 Swisher Donald USA Fireman 4 SCUBA American, aged 51, a member of the Arlington Heights (Illinois) fire department's technical rescue, hazardous materials response, water rescue and recovery dive teams, off duty, cleaning a swimming pool, autopsy concluded that he drowned. No explanation, might have involved heavy weight belt/inlet suction
  18. 2008 5 23 Garcia Pol Carlos Spain Tinsa SA 30 S/S Air Aged 33, from Madrid, one of two diving supervisors in a 6 man team working on the dam on the river Agueda 5 km South of Cuidad Rodrigo (Salamanca, Western Spain) since February (4 months) on contract to OSEPSA - Obras y Servicios Publicos Sociedad Anonima - for CHD - Hydrographic Confederation of the river Duero . Ten minutes into a dive dredging with an airlift at 09:30, reported as stopped talking to topsides, stand-by diver located the diver at depth, unconcious, recovered to surface but failed to respond to CPR treatment. Band mask pulled off, drowned. Reported in Terra Noticias, plus PC
  19. 2008 5 23 Not Recorded Yemen Muhibbah Baltic Taucher Topsides German, aged 42, deck Supervisor – (Was he the diving supervisor? TC) was fatally injured on the Muhibbah B9 Barge. Demobilising an air spread, attempting to remove an air receiver tank from the deck of the barge with a 150T crane. The signalman signalled the crane operator to lift the vessel. As he was lifting the vessel it did not move or rise. The signalman instructed the crane operator to stop lifting (but not slack tension) and the Deck Supervisor started checking on what was the problem. As he was checking around the air receiverl it suddenly popped loose and struck the Deck Supervisor in the head causing major injuries to the back of his head.
  20. 2008 5 22 Rudakov Roman Maldives Touring Maldives SCUBA Russian tourist, aged 41, diving off the “Baani Adventurer� died from contaminated air (reported as 150ppm CO in his tank), 9 others ill with 80ppm CO in their tanks. Complaints from previous day and requests to change filter ignored (cheap none-CO absorbing filter fitted on compressor), Medical O2 cylinder onboard dive boat was empty.
  21. 2008 5 15 Not Recorded Brazil 15 S/S Air Two divers in the water on KM Bandmasks, both lost air supply, one ditched bandmask and tried to surface, held down by umbilical, drowned. The second diver maintained bandmask and waited for air supply to be re-established and was brought to the surface in the basket. No bailouts, stand-by not immediately ready plus other factors.
  22. 2008 5 12 Smith Othel D USA International Diving Services S/S Air American, aged 24, one year out of diving school, died while working in a potable water storage tank in Paris, Texas. International Diving Services of Arlington, TX. "Pumps still running, sucked onto an inlet" Possibly no bailout or stand-by rig, body recovered by fire brigade (on SCUBA!)
  23. 2008 5 10 Not recorded Sri Lanka SCUBA Tamil Tigers attacked a Sri Lankan navy ship "Invisible" with an underwater explosion at about 2:15 a.m. and the vessel sank, said navy spokesman Cmdr. D.K.P. Dassanayake. The 213-foot (65-meter) craft was empty of cargo, he said. "We suspect the blast was carried out by a suicide diver" he said. BBC News.
  24. 2008 4 28 Monreal Dwight USA SCUBA Aged 62, professional golf ball diver, Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club, attacked by an alligator while retrieving balls from a lake near the 13th hole. Dislocated left shoulder and puncture wounds to his left arm. Officials said the 13th hole would be closed until the alligator was captured and killed.
  25. 2008 4 25 Rebolledo Andres Nelson Bustamente Chile Cultivos Marinos Chiloe 40 Chilean, aged 29, Salmon farm in central Butachauques, reported as DCI, died in hospital (inference is SCUBA and no DDC, to be confirmed) "Third diver to die in the industry this year. Reported that there have been 54 fatalities in the salmon industry since 2005. Ecoceane
  26. 2008 4 1 Edwards Darryl New Zealand SCUBA New Zealander, aged 54. Wellington harbour, inspecting the hull of a commercial charter vessel he had just hired. Reported as natural causes (a heart attack). Not a commercial diver.
  27. 2008 3 30 Rudolphi Juan Fernando Chile Fish Farm Reported as dying in an industrial accident at the Mirasol Commercial salmon farm, no details,. Ecoceane
  28. 2008 3 24 BBC UK Bangladesh 61 S/S Air BBC news article covering the 'Kohji' ('those who search for something') working the rivers of Bangladesh using tyre air compressors, hose pipe and basic BA type full face masks to recover scrap, cargo and bodies.
  29. 2008 3 21 Not Recorded USA 8 S/S Air Diver's umbilical caught in lift boat propeller, pulled in 75' before umbilical severed with the diver less than 20' from the propeller. Propeller (common hydraulics with crane) not locked out. Report on OD website
  30. 2008 3 17 Mason Rusty USA Enviro prot agency 31 SCUBA American, aged 54, working for the Florida Environmental Protection Agency off the NOAA vessel “Peter Gladding�, passed out during decompression stop, A certified dive instructor, he was one of seven people working aboard the vessel. After the dive, the two divers ascended to a 15’ decompression stage (complete with spare cylinders on a shot line). Partner saw that he had stopped breathing and tried to give him air but eventually ran out himself and had to surface. Two other divers immediately went down and recovered Mason from the bottom, 100 feet below (Tank empty, still wearing his weight belt), not breathing, no pulse. Members of the crew of the vessel took gave him CPR during the 15-mile boat trip to Fort Jefferson and a 75-mile rescue helicopter flight to the Lower Keys Medical Center near Key West. Pronounced dead at the medical centre.
  31. 2008 3 12 Not Recorded USA Chet Morrison Topsides Injured in explosion onboard DSV "Jillian Morrison", medivac but released from hospital after treatment
  32. 2008 3 12 Not Recorded Netherlands Fire Brigade volunteer SCUBA Dutch, aged 38, member of the voluntary fire brigade from Terneuzen, died while recovering a car from the Gent-Terneuzen canal, apparently he did not surface as expected, was recovered alive but in critical condition and died later in hospital. The autopsy report stated "drowning". The driver of the car apparently committed suicide by driving into the canal. He was being sought by police in connection with the murder of his 2 children 24/02/2008.
  33. 2008 3 12 Not Recorded Middle East CCC 126 Saturation Accidental sat system blowdown, 6 in sat, accidentally blown down from 50 m to 126 m (internal valve accidental closed by diver). No injuries, project delay, (Full report published on OD website)
  34. 2008 3 11 Altland Matt USA Chet Morrison Topsides Diver onboard the DSV "Jillian Morisson", Explosion knocked him into the water, fractured shouder, crushed elbow, collapsed lung, scalp injuries. Medivac to hospital in Lafayette.
  35. 2008 3 11 DSV "Jillian Morisson" USA Chet Morrison Tuesday evening, engine room explosion on board the vessel, 1 missing, 6 to hospital, 3 later released. Boat had a 12' x 20' hole in deck and sank in 30' of water, later salvaged and taken to New Orleans boatyard
  36. 2008 3 11 Not Recorded USA Chet Morrison Topsides Injured in explosion onboard DSV "Jillian Morrison", medivac but released from hospital after treatment
  37. 2008 3 11 Sievers Andy USA Chet Morrison Topsides Killed in explosion, blown into water, search called off 3 days later, body recovered offshore Ecuador
  38. 2008 3 11 Sonia Michael USA Chet Morrison Topsides Aged 43, crewman in the engine room, seriously injured in explosion onboard DSV "Jillian Morrison", died in hospital three days later
  39. 2008 3 11 Stevenson Robert USA Chet Morrison Topsides Aged 39, crewman in the engine room. Injured in explosion onboard DSV "Jillian Morrison", medivac seriously injured, died in hospital
  40. 2008 3 8 Gallardo Obando Victor Chile Bibisier diving Died performing work on a fish farm in Aysen when no diving should have been taking place (Closed by authotities due to bad weather) Reported by Ecoceane
  41. 2008 3 6 Le Pottier Marcel France Fire Brigade 4 SCUBA French fire brigade officer aged 42, two man team on SCUBA inspecting the hull of a damaged trawlerin the harbour of Saint-Quay-Portrieux in Brittany, tide going out, trawler rolled on its side, diver crushed against the quay.
  42. 2008 3 6 Not Recorded Gabon Not Reported 31 S/S Air Diver descended to depth, seen to be adjusting air supply valves, stopped responding to supervisor, stopped moving, stand-by diver deployed, put unconscious diver on free flow and recovered him to deck where he recovered consciousness, given precautionary therapeutic treatment. Self asphyxiated, had turned his air supply to nearly fully closed. No residual symptoms. Human error
  43. 2008 2 29 Heng Hii Teck Miri Not Reported 13 SCUBA Aged 42, professional ship repair divers working under the hull of the "Bunga Kelana 6' five miles off Bintulu, entered water, failed to surface, SAR diver located bodies two days later on ship's water inlet grill, but failed to recover divers due to currents.
  44. 2008 2 29 Jung Chew Kim Miri Not Reported 13 SCUBA Aged 37, professional ship repair divers working under the hull of the 'Bunga Kelana 6' five miles off Bintulu, entered water, failed to surface, SAR diver located bodies two days later on ship's water inlet grill, but failed to recover divers due to currents.
  45. 2008 2 11 Not Recorded ADCI DDC ADCI safety alert relating to failed viewport due to heat from fluorescent lightbulb
  46. 2008 2 9 Not Recorded Denmark DOF 0 Topsides ROVSV "Geosund" in dock, fatal accident involving ROV TMS/winch, release of locked in hydraulic pressure led to uncontrolled lifting of TMS. Safety bulletin DSN-HSEQ-S99-08-0001, IMCA SF 07/08
  47. 2008 1 26 Casanova Gines Acosta Spain Spanish Navy Spanish, aged 29, warrant officer, training dive at the Spanish Naval Diving training establishment, Caratagena, diving from the Neptuno, training dive, two others (Cortina and Paz) injured.
  48. 2008 1 26 Cortina Jose Spain Spanish Navy Spanish, training dive at the Spanish Naval Diving training establishment, Caratagena, diving from the Neptuno, training dive, one other injured (Paz), both given hyperbaric treatment in Santa Maria del Rosell naval hospital, one fatality (Casanova).
  49. 2008 1 26 Paz Julio Spain Spanish Navy Spanish, training dive at the Spanish Naval Diving training establishment, Caratagena, diving from the Neptuno, training dive, one other injured (Cortina), both given hyperbaric treatment in Santa Maria del Rosell naval hospital, one fatality (Casanova).
  50. 2008 1 18 Hanson Ola Norway SCUBA Aged 25, from Karlskrona in Sweden, 4 man commercial scallop diving operation off a small fishing community of Froya in Southern Norway, found unconscious on the seabed attached to a scallop bag containimg 70Kg, cause of death not reported. One year old daughter, his mother said his dream was to work on the oil platforms. Reported by Dykarna.nu
  51. 2008 1 0 Johnson Chris USA Veolia Oxy/Arc explosion Injury, no details. Offshorediver.com
  52. 2008 0 0 Bartee Daniel USA Bo Mac Maritime law blog, working as a diver, injured whilst working on the Mississippi, 6th March (2008??), injuries to heart, lung and others organs. Law suit under Jones act, no details
  53. 2008 0 0 IMCA SF 07/08 Denmark DOF 0 Topsides ROV related fatality in port (See 09/02/2008)
  54. 2008 0 0 IMCA SF 18/08 Spain Saipem 0 Topsides J-lay incident, 4 fatalities (See 17/09/2008)
  55. 2008 0 0 Not Recorded USA Seamar Divers We are pleased to announce that one of our clients, a commercial diver who works offshore, has obtained a settlement against his employer and a lift boat company following serious injuries he sustained while diving offshore. Our client was employed by Seamar and worked on a lift boat.  According to their websites, Seamar Divers provides offshore commercial divers, subsea construction, and subsea fabrication services to the oil and gas industry.  Montco Offshore provides lift boats to the offshore industry. Our client was hurt when the Seamar supervisor failed to monitor the dive properly, resulting in our client getting "the bends."  The Montco crane operator brought him up too quickly and dropped him too hard on the deck of the lift boat, resulting in severe orthopedic injuries. Vujasinovic & Beckcom (Injury Lawyers) website
  56. 2008 0 0 Pol Carlos Spain 60 S/S Air ack hammer. He was on air as his breathing gas (at 60 m).  Due to the nature of the operation, the visibility was badly disturbed and to counteract this, the company had requested that the diver place a 10�-12� diameter flexi hose airlift in close proximity to his working position, to clear away suspended particles. This was secured by the diver using rope and was made hot at the surface.  There was no information as to whether the diver had a flow control valve at his side?  At some point the securing knot became detached, which caused the hose to drift out of position, coming into contact with the back of the divers head as he worked. The intense suction caused his band-mask to become dislodged and also trapped him at the base of the airlift, resulting in him drowning. Apparently several days prior to this particular incident there was a similar situation where the hose had dislodged and had trapped the working divers arm.  On that occasion topside managed to switch off the airlift and the diver managed to free himself - though he did require hospital treatment to his badly damaged arm. Furthers details may be coming. PC
  57. 2007 12 29 Ernesto Silva Olguin Mexico Pemex Aged 35, Diving off the drilling rig 'Pride California'
  58. 2007 11 17 Chen-Lu Hsu Taipei 30 S/S Air Aged 51, diving off the commercial fishing vessel 'Hsinlienfa 168' off Turtle Island. Two divers died and two injured. Authorities stated they would prosecute (occupational negligent manslaughter) the vessel operator, Tu Chuen-yi, for improper operation of the vessel and allowing the propeller to cut all four airlines leaving the divers at depth with no air supplies. None of the divers had licences, no standby or safety equipment.
  59. 2007 11 17 Pie-Chun Sun Taipei 30 S/S Air Aged 33, diving off the commercial fishing vessel 'Hsinlienfa 168' off Turtle Island. Two divers died and two injured. Authorities stated they would prosecute (occupational negligent manslaughter) the vessel operator, Tu Chuen-yi, for improper operation of the vessel and allowing the propeller to cut all four airlines leaving the divers at depth with no air supplies. None of the divers had licences, no standby or safety equipment.
  60. 2007 11 11 Not Recorded France La Schaphandre 10 SCUBA Aged 39, French commercial diver, died during completion of work on the lock downstream of the slew bridge in Rochefort Harbour, no details
  61. 2007 11 5 Not Recorded Poland Tri-Marine Diving services Polish diver working on an unmanned PetroBaltic platform north of Wladyslawowo, described as 'during ascent, taken ill underwater'. Died. No details. NB, it was a Petrobaltic survey vessel (the St Barbara) that found the lost wreck of the second world war German aircraft carrier 'Graf Zeppelin�in 87 metres water depth off the port of Leba in 2006 (She went missing in transit to Russia in 1947). Reported by dlavego.co m.pl.
  62. 2007 11 0 Not Recorded Egypt 7 SCUBA Abu Quir harbour, team sent to work but Supervisor decided his team were too inexperienced and decided to do the job himself. 7 hour dive. Failed to surface, found drowned. No details, though same diving contractor is reported to have had fatalities in March 2004 and October 2008.
  63. 2007 10 30 Loveria Tim USA Poterdam 6 SCUBA 46 year old from Conklin, New York, diving contractor out of New York, drowned Tuesday in Panguitch Lake, Utah. Failed to surface at about 1 p.m. He was removing a temporary dam his team had installed to allow water to be pumped out of a channel that crews were trying to dig deeper, Garfield County sheriff's deputies wrote in a statement. Other divers on the team found Loveria under 18 feet of water. Reported in Deseret News
  64. 2007 10 27 Luse William J USA 3 Aged 34, Trapped for about 15 minutes by water flow through a coffer dam 23/10/2007, lost air supply, initially thought to be recovering, died 4 days later “Luse got stuck when flowing water forced him into a void between the cofferdam and the gate, which was open and releasing water. A partner working with him was able to tie a rope to the trapped diver's equipment but was not able to pull him free. When Luse was eventually pulled up, the air hose he was using to breathe had been knocked from his mouth. Officials were uncertain how long he had been without air�.
  65. 2007 10 25 Myers Mathew USA Sealife Centre SCUBA American, aged 44, Resurrection Bay, Alaska, training dive to become a Sealife centre scientific diver, "ran out of air, may have panicked trying to take off his weight belt" drowned.
  66. 2007 10 23 Rig 'Usumacinta' Mexico PEMEX Jack Up, drilling well KAB-103 in the Bay of Campeche, caught in a storm, rig moved hitting a producing christmas ttree, blow out, major hydrocarbon release. 22 fatalities. Investigation has not been made public, speculation that the rig suffereda structural or jacking mechanism failure.
  67. 2007 10 17 Contreras Victor Lemus Chile Empresa Salmones Antártica 49 SCUBA Amateur Diver (He only had a license to dive to 20 meters), died in the Mallahue Culivation Center, in Achao Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  68. 2007 10 10 Spiers Richard Jeremy USA Southern underwater S/S Air Aged 27, 70 to 100 feet up a 36" water pipe at Carrollton water filter plant, helmet off, Monday 8th October, died in the Tanner Medical Centre on Wednesday
  69. 2007 10 8 Colson David Australia Topsides Paraphrased from press reports “The case is stark. It took David Colson over five hours to die of the cold in Bass Strait. The 24-year-old was the deckhand on a dinghy dangerously overloaded with 744 kilograms of abalone - the weight of at least eight adults - which foundered off north-western Tasmania. Had the boat's crew pulled off the day's work, it would have made Colson about $1000, the skipper/diver $6000 and the abalone quota-holding businessman onshore about $26,000. The boat's name? ''Too Easy''. The Tasmanian abalone fishery is the world's largest and Colson was one of many drawn by its potential bonanzas. He was licensed to dive - but diving licences are one thing and getting work from quota holders is another. Abalone quotas are fisheries gold. Tasmania permits 3500 quota units, each for 760 kilograms of abalone. Units trade for about $250,000, giving the industry a capital worth about $875 million. There are about 300 quota-holding ''entities'', many fewer individuals, and they hold the power. In October 2007, a quota holder through his company, engaged diver TB to work a unit at Black Reef, 1.5 kilometres offshore. TB, who owned Too Easy, took Colson on as deckie. They started on October 8 in still water, the diver below and the deckie handling the dinghy as they did runs along the reef. But Too Easy was accumulating bilge water below its floor, the inquest heard, and the mounting catch meant it was sitting lower in the water. After about six hours work, they were calling it quits when the slopping bilge water took control of the boat. Frenzied attempts to bale and throw the catch overboard failed. With Colson on his mobile failing to raise help, Too Easy went under about 3.30pm. Their emergency position radio beacons disappeared and flares didn't work. They began to swim with Burton still in his wetsuit and Colson in wet-weather gear wearing a small lifejacket. The alarm wasn't raised onshore for more than three hours and a local constable was slow to react. By then, Colson was succumbing to hypothermia as they kept swimming against currents - he probably died about 9pm. TB refused to let go, eventually touching sand on an island off Smithton about 10.15pm and dragging Colson's body ashore. They were found in the morning by searchers. The coroner heard that the quota holder believed he had no occupational health and safety duty to those on the boat, who he saw as independent subcontractors and also noted a lack of clear workplace standards for commercial fishing vessels. The state agency, Workplace Standards Tasmania said it had no capacity to police these standards anyway. The quota holder was reported as saying ''they seem to want to blame me, whereas I don't really have anything to do with it. It's a terrible, unfortunate incident.� The coroner found that there was:- No workplace safety code for the abalone fishery, No maximum load limits for commercial dinghies, No compulsory reporting system for fishers at sea, Inadequate rules for emergency beacons or VHF radio, Inadequate bilge pumps in dinghies, Inadequate marine training and vessel survey rules. Reported in the Sydney Morning herald
  70. 2007 10 7 Not Recorded Greece SCUBA Unidentified 44 year old Greek diver, one of a team gathering evidence for the judicial enquiry into the sinking of the "Sea Diamond" cruise ship that hit reefs and sank off Santorini, "ascended too rapidly, decompression illness, rushed to hospital, pronounced dead"
  71. 2007 10 6 Lesme Dominguez Crisaldo Argentina Salbupar SRL Surface Swimmer Translated and paraphrased from Spanish news reports. "Finally yesterday the diver found dead on Saturday in Parana river in the neighborhood near San Pedro Pescador was identified as Paraguayan Crisaldo is Lesme Dominguez, 35. His body was identified by his brother, Vicente Crisaldo Lesme, According to reports, Dominguez Lesme Crisaldo worked as a tactical diver for Salbupar SRL (Salvage and Diving of Paraguay). His body was found on Saturday around 5 pm near the Parana . The corpse was wearing snorkeling gear with goggles on his face and fins. Paraguayan authorities stated:- "Death by drowning" . Reported in Diario Norte
  72. 2007 10 6 Reinaldos Pedro Alejandro Dominguez Chile Osvaldo Galindo SCUBA Aged 40. Diving at the Quiquel Cultivation Center in Dalcuahue province, - Suffered a diving accident that left him unable to walk several years earlier, continued in the business, working as a middleman between area divers and farmed salmon companies. After he was unable to contract divers for a job, he suited up and took to the water himself. Chiloé Provincial Labor Inspector Víctor Inostroza quoted as saying “The fact that the worker who died was handicapped just shows that there’s no one at the salmon farm worried about security. This diver was absolutely illegal. He didn’t have a diving permit. His equipment was in poor condition. There was no contingency plan and the diver wasn’t trained,�. Allegedly, this death brings to 50 the number of Chilean salmon industry divers who have perished in just the past two years though the same article quotes the diver's union as saying 15 divers had died in the previous 18 months
  73. 2007 10 5 Ward David Nigeria Hydrodive Topsides Kidnapped in August on the way to work in Port Harcourt, held for 56 days until rescued during a raid on his captors base. Daily Telegraph, UK.
  74. 2007 10 1 Nuestro Eddie Middle East Global subtec Diver fatality, Philippino, approx 60 years old. At 20' stop, difficulty breathing, chest pains, St/By jumped, diver brought to surface and decompressed in DDC. Possible heart attack.
  75. 2007 10 0 Not Recorded USA Rumour, no details, commercial diver in Sierra Nevada mountains, dam work
  76. 2007 9 25 Myers Mathew USA Sealife Centre SCUBA Aged 44, Marine mammal scientist with the Sealife Centre in Seward, alaska. Training dive, ran out of air, surfaced with instructor, decided to swim to shore (rather than to their anchored boat), unable to release weight belt or inflate buoyancy, submerged, instructor assumed he was trying to release his weight belt but he did not resurface. Pair were diving alone. Body recovered 90 minutes later.
  77. 2007 9 24 L Maciej Poland Tri-Marine 35 SCUBA Aged 29, one of two divers 'performing routine maintenance after a storm' at around 35 metres on the unmanned platform 'Petrobaltic 1" (An ROV was reported as monitoring the divers), apparently passed out and sank towards the seabed, the second diver went down to 45, 55 or 80 metres (depending on which press report you read, and prosecutors were unable to determine depth/profile as both dive computers and work logs were 'all lost') to find him and pulled him to the surface but he failed to respond to treatment (Second diver was transported by Navy helicopter and successfully treated for DCI in a chamber in Gdynia). Proecution a year later claimed no lifelines, insufficient number in the dive team, improper equipment (no communications, use of sports diving equipment for commercial purposes), misconduct. Incorrect diving gas mix was quoted as possible cause of initial loss of consciousness (Was this a nitrox or trimix dive?). Reported in Wirtualna Poland
  78. 2007 9 22 Titanic Key UK White Star Titanic sank 15/4/1912 with a loss of 1522 lives. Keys to the crows nest binocular locker auctioned in Wiltshire (In the possession of second officer who did not sail at last minute) A lookout reported at the enquiry that they would have been able to see the iceberg earlier if they had had binoculars
  79. 2007 9 20 Seamec II Curacao Seamec 07:35 hours, Port of Willemstad, Curacao, Explosion/fire in dry dock, 5 welders killed, plus another 6 injured
  80. 2007 9 17 Hedden Bill USA SCUBA Alligator bit off diver's arm
  81. 2007 9 16 Not Recorded Canada SCUBA Two recreational SCUBA divers died after being sucked into the water inlet of the Sir Adam Beck hydro-electric plant above Niagara falls.
  82. 2007 9 10 Anh Duong Trong Vietnam Surface diving Vietnamese, aged 16, stabbed through the heart by a metres long needle fish (type of gar with a 150mm beak) whilst diving for sea cucumbers
  83. 2007 9 6 Harris Robert J. USA Borries Marine S/S Air BILOXI, Mississippi, Diver critically injured Tuesday 4th while dredging under a casino barge. 22 years old, died on Thursday 6th night at Biloxi Regional Medical Center where he had been on life support since the accident at IP Casino Resort Spa. Drowned. Radioed his surface support crew that he was having trouble with his equipment. When co-workers pulled Harris up to the surface, he was unresponsive and not breathing. His S.L. 17 uncamed. He was nearly 300' under the boat.
  84. 2007 9 4 Salabogi Leone Fiji Navy Fijian Navy diver aged 27, Suva Naval Jetty, salvage operation to remove debris, no details. The Fiji Times
  85. 2007 9 3 Acton Steve USA Caldive Saipem 54 Saturation Katrina' salvage ops. "Using a grinder on a fallen structure deck plate, heard a weird noise and that was it". Diver was using a hydraulic underwater grinder to cut a window into 5/8 inch steel plate. There was an underwater explosion. Deck crew on the S-355 barge reported hearing a boom and some individuals stated that they felt the shock wave of the explosion. The videotape that was recording the diver’s movements was non-operational. An unspecified number of minutes elapsed before bell partner reached unresponsive diver 1. Upon reaching diver, the standby opened the free-flow valve on his diving hat. This action caused the diving helmet to become completely detached leaving the diver’s head exposed to sea water, without access to any breathing apparatus. Diver immediately attempted to replace the helmet and hold it in place. During this time a surface standby diver was sent to assist. The bell partner, with or without the assistance of the surface diver, brought the injured diver into the bell, and following assessment while in communication with the diving physician, initiated chest compressions. Injured diver was raised to surface in the bell but pronounced dead.. Investigation ongoing. An interim technical report raised issue of potential for underwater explosion when cutting into a gas pocket with a grinder (underwater grinding 'sparks' not generally raised as an issue in risk assessments
  86. 2007 9 1 Ross Mark Australia DOF 46 year old, fell overboard seismic survey vessel M/V "Geosounder" 03:00 am
  87. 2007 9 0 Alvarado Pedro Pablo Chile Asserma Died while fixing underwater netting on a Chiloé-area salmon farm owned by Norwegian aquaculture company Marine Harvest. Reported that that the diver was in the water approximately 10 minutes when colleagues on the surface detected a problem. A fellow diver then entered the water and found him unconscious at a depth of approximately 20 meters, dragged him to the surface. Taken to, where doctors pronounced him dead. An autopsy determined the cause of death as Acute Decompression Illness, also known as the “bends. (Report incomplete but no other details available).
  88. 2007 9 0 Kok Damien Tan Yee Malaysia Master Tech 30 S/S Air Singaporean, Cable lay, relocating dredge, KM18 band mask, suspected band mask off, possible head injuries, Trained by Singaporean Navy, inadequate equipment, inadequate team size, no quals, 'supervisor' qualified as trainee supervisor only.
  89. 2007 9 0 Skulan Jeff USA Bisso American, DLB "Big Chief". DCI incident, in hospital
  90. 2007 8 29 Rodriguez Joaquin Castelao Angel Spain Coral Diver 28 SCUBA Aged 74, known locally as 'the angel of coral' had spent over 20 years living in Alcudiq collecting coralharvesting coral ('Red Gold') from his boat 'Nemo' in the channel between Menorc and Mallorca, 17 miles north of the port of Alcudia, diving with his son, became ill during decompression stops. An SAR helicopter dropped a medic onboard who confirmed he had died. Had spent years criticising intensive fishing methoids (like beam trawling) which damage the seabed. Reported by Diario de Mallorca
  91. 2007 8 22 Antinanco Pedro Alvarado Chile Aserma, Marine Harvest SCUBA Diver, Cultivation Center of Puchilco, located in Lemuy Island, Central Chiloé, Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  92. 2007 8 18 DSV "Orelia" UK Technip Saturation DP incident. Vessel attempted a 580m move when on DP sat diving ops set up 40 m from "Tartan A", Talisman. Heading would have taken the Orelia straight through the platform, swift action of the bridge crew saved the day and they stopped the run off 10m from the platform, divers down at the time (considering the batter of the platform the bell must have been pretty damn close) RIDDOR report submitted. DP fault found to be a switching bug buried deep in the core program software. Vessel has gone back to work with a "Don't operate this switch within 10 seconds of operating another switch" procedure prepared by the skipper. Inherent problem with the vessels DP Program which only came to light after 8 years of DP Operations (particular sequence of events which when executed within a particular time scale results in the vessel losing position). Kongsberg DP system but software by "Converteam".
  93. 2007 8 14 DSV "Bar Protector" UK Saipem Saturation Dunbar replacement pipeline project. Collision between Crane on the DSV "Bar Protector" and the Dunbar Platform.  High Potential Incident + Reportable to the HSE as a Dangerous Occurrence
  94. 2007 8 12 Not Recorded Norway Saipem On 12 August a 48-year-old man died in an accident during work (lifting operation) on board the crane vessel Saipem 7000 near the Gullfaks field in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. At around the 1000hrs the man fell overboard and was found dead shortly afterwards following a rescue operation. The deceased was an employee of Saipem, who during the weekend of 12/13 August has been working for Statoil installing a subsea separator at the Tordis field. The cause of the accident is being investigated (Actually found one and a half hours later on the seabed by the ROV) first offshore Norwegian fatality since 2002.
  95. 2007 8 7 Primeau Christopher N USA Associated Underwater Services, Spokane 40 S/S Air American aged 35. Cherry Point Refinery, Bellingham (North of Puget sound). Sheriff's report "Primeau was checking for rocks/underwater cables, his job was to signal when 24-foot-tall steel pilings weighing up to nine tons could be lowered into the water, when crews could start driving the pilings and when they should stop once they'd been driven in to the appropriate depth. Depth about 140 feet, he signalled for crews to begin driving a piling, within 13 seconds, Primeau screamed, "All stop! All stop!" Camera and light on his helmet went dead, no comms. Hammer may have disconnected causing the piling to fall over. OSHA fines of $21,650.
  96. 2007 8 0 Frog Incident Equatorial Guinea Exxon Mobil Early August, Equatorial Guinea, both primary and secondary wires parted during personnel transfer operations dropping the frog 4 metres to deck, one injured. Accelerated corrosion under the high visibility wire sheath, reported inspected less than 2 months prior to the incident. Sheath secured by velcro for easy access/inspection, but this one had been tie-wrapped in place. See IMCA SF 09/07
  97. 2007 7 28 Carey Lavar Bahamas Paradise Cove Resort SCUBA Paraphrased from a reported in the Nassau Guardian. “Grand Bahama police on Saturday reported another drowning. Initial reports by police indicate that 22-year-old Lavar Carey of Pinedale, Eight Mile Rock, an employee at a local watersports company, apparently drowned while at work at that facility in West Grand Bahama late Saturday afternoon. According to police shortly before six o'clock Saturday evening, the duty officer at the Police Dispatch Centre in Freeport received a call from a staff member at Paradise Cove Resort in Deadman's Reef, who reported that one of their divers was discovered by the resort's proprietor floating underwater, an apparent drowning victim. As a result, EMR Division and Central Detective Unit officers along with EMS personnel were dispatched to that location. Upon arrival there, the resort's owner, Barry Smith, pointed out Carey's body lying on the beach. He noted that Carey, who had been employed as a diver for the past year, had gone out as usual in a boat around 5:00 p.m., to collect the dive marker flags and floats and bring them ashore to secure them. After he failed to return within 20 minutes, fellow staff members became concerned and, along with Smith, they got into a boat and went looking for him. Smith stated that they found the boat that Carey had gone out in, but did not see him anywhere. After searching the area offshore from the beach for about 30 minutes, Carey was found floating motionless underwater. He was rushed ashore and rendered CPR and other resuscitative measures, but failed to respond. EMS personnel rushed him to the trauma section at the Rand Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 6:35 p.m. by the doctor on duty.� Diver at work, but not a diving incident, TC
  98. 2007 7 22 DSV "Eclipse" UKCS Caldive Subsea 7 Saturation DSV "Eclipse" (Ex "Stena Seaspread"). Loss of pressure from the transfer trunk when preparing for the transfer of divers (TUP), HSE issued a prohibition notice to Cal Dive International Pte., the owners of the vessel, with actions required to be implemented prior to the continued use of the Dive System for Saturation Diving. The corrective actions are both mechanical and procedural, est. 3 days. HSE to witness the completed improvement. At the time the seal was lost on the trunk the divers were in the bell.
  99. 2007 7 22 Wilson Stephen USA SCUBA Sports diver, aged 36, fatally injured when struck by lightning as he surfaced. Miami Herald
  100. 2007 7 18 Whittal Robert USA Speciality diving, inshore 3 S/S Air From South Africa, Jetting, lost air pressure from topside, not wearing a bail out. Ditched his hat but fouled in his umbilical and jet hose. By the time the crew got him on deck, no pulse, not breathing, bleeding from the head. Revived with CPR, medivac-ed to hospital, initially on life support. Ongoing lawsuit.
  101. 2007 7 17 Nahar Indonesia Paraphrased from press reports:- Pier Ipi, Nusa Damai, Ende, Flores Island. Wreck of a vessel sunk in September 2004, needed to be removed as it was obstructing ferry access to the pier. Diver killed in an explosion cutting into the hull during salvage operations. No details. Metrotvnews.com
  102. 2007 7 0 Not Recorded Qatar McDermott 0 Surface Swimmer Lay barge KP1, Qatargas SPM Project, 42" pipeline lay. The accident occurred while the diver swimmer was doing work on the stinger in the water. A swell swept him into the barge where he suffered a fractured pelvis and several fractured ribs. He was medivac’d to Hamad hospital, Doha. Reported as out of intensive care, no indication of any internal organ damage.
  103. 2007 6 26 Not Recorded Russia, Sakhalin DOF Saturation New built mobile saturation system on DSV "Geosea". Bell port leaked during descent. Investigation revealed multiple problems with system, Audits not thorough or accurate.
  104. 2007 6 4 Not Recorded Norway Technip Topsides Trainee Diving Supervisor on the DSV Wellservicer, (Possible Heart attack?), plus fire in aft engine room when alongside in Stavanger, put out by Stavanger fire brigade after 70 minutes.
  105. 2007 6 1 Henderson Phil Malaysia Sarku Topsides Australian Diving Supervisor on the Shell Chartered DSV Sarku Clementine, passed away offshore, natural causes, (possible heart attack).
  106. 2007 5 19 Hopkins Ronald Australia State Emergency Services SCUBA Aged 54, volunteer who drowned on a flooded boat training exercise in the Murray River at Mildura, body recovered the following day by NSW police divers the day after. Victoria State Emergency Services were convicted and fined $75,000 and ordered to undertake a thorough and regular review of it's workplace safety practices. Quote “Failing to ensure a person other than an employee was not exposed to risk�, regarded as a significant conviction as it recognised that organisations have an obligation not just to their direct employees but also the volunteer members. Sydney Morning Herald
  107. 2007 5 0 Not Recorded USA During cleaning operations the diver released the trigger on the cavitation gun (deactivating the jet stream) to reposition. When the diver reapplied pressure to the trigger on the gun, the cavitation gun kicked back toward the diver, causing the retro end of the gun to come into close proximity of his wrist and forearm. Subsequently the retro-jet caused a high pressure (approx. 1000psi) seawater injection injury to the diver’s forearm See ADCI website for report
  108. 2007 4 20 Kropidlowski Ken USA Orange County Sheriff's Department 9 SCUBA Orange County Sheriff's rescue diver rushed to a hospital with leg injuries after becoming entangled in a sunken sailboat while searching the wreckage for its missing owner. 18-year veteran of the department and a member of its dive team, he was 30-feet deep off a jetty in Newport Beach when he got tangled in debris about 11 a.m. and made an emergency ascent, "He was in extreme pain and had to be assisted onto the boat," ."He was rushed to harbor headquarters where an ambulance was waiting to take him to Hoag Hospital.He was treated for a torn ligament, his leg placed in a splint and released from the hospital on crutches, The 10-member dive team failed to find any trace of missing Phoenix boater William Eugene Ott during a two-hour search of the 30-foot sailboat.
  109. 2007 4 6 Billiter, USN Gregory J Iraq US Navy Topsides Aged 36, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 11, based at Whidbey Island, Washington. Killed in the same incident were two other divers, Petty Officer Joseph McSween, 26, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Curtis R. Hall, 24, of Burley, Idaho, the Defense Department said. The three were specialists in identifying explosive materials and disarming them. Military Times
  110. 2007 4 6 Hall, USN Curtis R Iraq US Navy Topsides Aged 22, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 11, based at Whidbey Island, Washington. Killed in the same incident were two other divers, Chief Petty Officer Gregory J. Billiter, 36, of Villa Hills, Ky., and Petty Officer Joseph McSween, 26, the Defense Department said. The three were specialists in identifying explosive materials and disarming them. Military Times
  111. 2007 4 6 McSween,USN Joseph Adam Iraq US Navy Topsides Aged 26, He was assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 11, based at Whidbey Island, Washington. Survived by wife and two daughters aged 5 and 2. Also killed in the same incident were two other divers, Chief Petty Officer Gregory J. Billiter, 36, of Villa Hills, Ky., and Petty Officer 2nd Class Curtis R. Hall, 24, of Burley, Idaho, the Defense Department said. The three were specialists in identifying explosive materials and disarming them. Military Times
  112. 2007 4 1 Campbell Joseph Jamaica SCUBA Aged 35, found with extensive head wounds along with rope/tools. Speculation that he may have been attaching cannabis container to a cargo ship (Smuggling) . Severe head injuries compatible with propeller impact. At least three civilian commercial divers contracted by vessel operators to search hulls for contraband prior to departure have been murdered, searches now conducted by security services. Reported in the Jamaica Observer
  113. 2007 3 27 Wildin Leading Seaman Timothy Australia HMAS SCUBA Aged 24, diving off HMAS Frigate “Parramatta�, Jervis Bay, removing snagged commercial fishing gear from the propellers. “Seriously injured, spent time in intensive care�, Navy inquiry, report not seen, made a full recovery and returned to duties. At the Inquiry it was reported that he was found underwater, unconscious, entangled in fishing lines and may not have had easy access to his secondary breathing gear (Not fitted with a clip to keep it near his head), recovered to surface 'limp and vomiting'. smh.com.au/abc.net.au/news
  114. 2007 3 15 USCG Safety Alert USA USCG Topsides USCG Safety alert regarding increase in commercial diver fatalities and injuries (I think the only diving related alert ever issued in the USA, TC)
  115. 2007 2 22 Birchedal Martin Gibraltar UCS or Gibunco/Scamp? SCUBA Danish, married with 2 children, died doing a hull cleaning job in Gibraltar, may have been a solo dive, no comms or stand-by diver. No details in the public domain. Inquest held in 2010 found that he had been using a single 80 litre SCUBA tank (Manufactured in 2003 with no test stamps since manufacture and containing 2 litres of fresh water) and an aga mask (recovered in 'destroyed' condition). Vox Gibraltar/Longstreath/PC
  116. 2007 2 20 Not Recorded Norway KAJ Diving Services A diver, in his 30s, was involved in an accident at the Borregaard industries Power station (Sarpsborg), he was taken to hospital in Fredrikstad but pronounced dead. No details. Reported by NTB
  117. 2007 2 20 Sue Qing Wen Singapore Dolphin Dive & Adventure 35 SCUBA Singaporean, 35m sports diver open water training dive, surfaced, sank, swept away by current, body recovered 3 days later Tank contained 785ppm CO and 12.3ppm H2S. Open verdict.
  118. 2007 2 7 Alvarado Martin USA State water dept 9 SCUBA Employee of the State water dept, part of a volunteer team of approx 12 divers who inspect/maintain the water system, died in an aqueduct, Dos Amigos pumping station, 5 mph current, tethered together, reported as not sucked onto the inlet grating, but no explanation, double fatality (Crawford) fined $16,120 for the two deaths
  119. 2007 2 7 Crawford Tim USA State water dept 9 SCUBA Employee of the State water dept, part of a volunteer team of approx 12 divers who inspect/maintain the water system, died in an aqueduct, Dos Amigos pumping station, 5 mph current, tethered together, reported as not sucked onto the inlet grating, but no explanation, double fatality (Alvarado) fined $16,120 for the two deaths
  120. 2007 2 1 Ernest Brian USA Superior Saturation Diver from Tennessee, DSV "Endeavour", Superior Offshore International LLC, spoolpiece, air bag, uncontrolled lift? diver entangled?
  121. 2007 2 0 Not Recorded Singapore Acergy Saturation Seaway Hawk, Singapore, Medlock door failed during pressure test, one technician seriously injured IMCA SF 08/07
  122. 2007 2 0 Not Recorded Australia S & W Investments 16 S/S Air Commercial crayfish dive off Forbes Island, suffered decompression illness after his air supply was cut off during the second of two consecutive dives, causing him to resurface too quickly. Contractor pleaded guilty to breaching the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, having failed to ensure the safety of workers. An investigation found there was no emergency air supply and the placement of the dive equipment allowed the air line to kink. In sentencing, the Magistrate took into consideration the company’s good record and prompt remedial action, but also the extent of the diver’s injuries and their frequency in the industry. Fined $32,000. No conviction was recorded.
  123. 2007 1 12 Verma SK UAE Arab Tanker Services 31 S/S Air Switching gases at first stop, no gas (valve closed on HP bottle but with an 'open' tag)
  124. 2007 1 4 Almonacid Rene de la Chile salmones Antartica Topsides Commercial shellfish diver, killed in a road traffic accident between a truck transporting salmon and a crew bus transporting salmon farm workers. Another fish factory worker was killed in the same accident. Reported by Ecoceanos
  125. 2007 1 0 Horgan Nad USA ? 0 Topsides Working as a tender, "Broke his hip and femur working on a lift boat a couple of months ago, two ops, told by doctors that he will never work again"
  126. 2006 12 9 Vera Daniel Castro Chile Invertec SCUBA Diver, Mapué Cultivation Center (close to Tranqui Island, South of Chiloé), Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  127. 2006 12 4 ASRV Australia Caldive 130 Atmos. ASRV "Remora" annual trials 'Black Carillon"from "Seahorse Standard", broken winch wire, 2 Caldive personnel on seabed for 15 hours, recovered to near surface, transferred to deck on SCUBA, no injuries, then the other wire broke, (Close to double or even a triple fatality?),"Remora" on seabed. Condition not reported, recovered over 4 months later (April 2007) by a USN team.
  128. 2006 12 3 English Captain Shawn Iraq US Army Topsides Aged 35, killed by a roadside bomb. Bbased in Panama City Beach, Florida, where he lived with his wife and three sons. An Army diver who had been stationed in Iraq helping to train Iraqi Army officers
  129. 2006 12 1 Barron Mike USA Divcon Injury, CNS hit
  130. 2006 11 29 Not Recorded Fiji Aged 25 from Yanuca Island, lost his life while diving for bech-de-mer. The Divisional media liaison officer said the deceased was with other divers but he failed to surface after a dive. A search was undertaken by officers of the Navua Police station and villagers. The body was recovered on Thursday. No other details. Reported by Fiji Times on line
  131. 2006 11 23 Johnson Chris USA Veolia 9 S/S Air MMS report dated 31 Jan 2006 (typo?) published 4/4/2007 (See 2006 GOM MMS.doc) Block ST 300 (South Timbalier platform), at 19:50 hours, Underwater Oxy Arc explosion, knocked unconscious, facial lacerations, chipped tooth, sore ribs. Evacuated to Terrebone General Medical Centre, stabilised, kept in overnight, released 10:50 hours 26/11/2006. "Will be out of work for three weeks" 'No violation" (MMS report) but diving medical revoked, may not ever dive commercially again (OD).
  132. 2006 10 8 Not Recorded Azerbaijan 100 Saturation 2 T work basket lowered onto diver, immediately lifted off, dive recovered to system, lower back injuries (IMCA member, lifting incident report circulated)
  133. 2006 10 7 da Costa Rivanildo Alves Brazil Aged 27. Diving subcontractor working for Petrobras in the Sergipe area. While a diver was in the water tying a line to tend the vessel to a submarine post (stack), the vessel was moved in his direction with the thrusters. When alerted of the danger, the vessel crew moved the thruster’s throttle to the off position, but one of the thrusters did not stop, due to a mechanical or electrical failure. The diver’s umbilical was caught by the thruster and the diver pulled into the blades. Globo News
  134. 2006 10 0 de Matos Paulo Cesar Brazil 23 SCUBA Brazilian, Canoa Quebrada hydroelectric plant at Lucas do Rio Verde, arm sucked up an 8� diameter pipe, three dive team members could not free him. A week later officials were still discussing whether to lower the water level in the lake in order to free the body.
  135. 2006 9 25 Not Recorded Spain Brazilian, aged 28, Port of Castellon, inlet pipe/differential pressure incident, died of head injuries (Another diver died in the port in January).
  136. 2006 9 15 Not Recorded Australia Diving school Albury SCUBA Aged 35, Australian Army, undergoing commercial diver training, died during training dive, apparently ran out of air, became entangled in lifeline, did not activate reserve, no real details
  137. 2006 9 4 Irwin Steve Australia Surface Swimmer Australian, TV presenter “Crocodile hunter� stabbed in the chest by a stingray during filming on the Great Barrier reef, cardiac arrest
  138. 2006 9 1 Ireland Patrick USA 61 Saturation Location was West Delta 104? Diver umbilical snagged by Manta Ray a week after Kevin Griffeth. See youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=959CWu0w8dc&mode=related&search=
  139. 2006 8 29 McGrath Chandon Lee USA Bisso 67 S/S Mixed Gas East Area block 346, Rowan Drilling, Removal of the MODU "Rowan Halifax" (Sank on the lease during Hurricane Rita) Mixed gas surface diving from the DP II DSV "Global Explorer" run by International Subsea Inc., Houston. No real details, no audio record recovered by CG investigators, "audio malfunctioned"
  140. 2006 8 26 Griffeth Kevin S USA Caldive 67 S/S Mixed Gas "Cal Diver IV", Main Pass area, Freeport-McMoRan Energy Inc, platform inspection. Began his ascent, at approx. 150 fsw a large manta ray became entangled in his dive hose, pulling the diver to the surface in a rapid ascent. Into DDC but died
  141. 2006 8 17 Duque Steve Arctic USCG 6 SCUBA Diving off the USCG vessel "Healy", Alaska, under ice. Incompetence
  142. 2006 8 17 Hill Jessica Arctic USCG 6 SCUBA Diving off the USCG vessel "Healy", Alaska, under ice. Incompetence
  143. 2006 8 14 Andrews David USA Rutgers Institute 15 SCUBA Aged 56, diving off the research vessel 'Arabella' to install a sensor on the LEO-15 (Longterm Ecosystem Observatory), got into difficulty, was pulled aboard given CPR and air lifted to hospital but did not regain consciousness. CDNN
  144. 2006 8 1 Cain Terrence Spain SCUBA British, aged 47, died on a holiday SCUBA dive off Benidorm from contaminated air (CO2 poisoning)
  145. 2006 8 1 Erter Ryan USA 44 Vermillion VR 250, Remington Oil and Gas No formal reports are available yet. Diver apparently died in the deck chamber after recompression for suspected DCS ( on surfacing, complained of headaches and blurred vision) following a normally executed dive to approximately 150 FSW. Employer has released no information regarding the accident and the diving community awaits the reports from the Coast Guard and the MMS
  146. 2006 8 0 Southworth Stephen Tobago Topsides British commercial saturation diver aged 40, died suddenly in a bar on the island of Tobago. The West Lancashire coroner ruled that the father of two had suffered clogging of his coronary arteries and an enlarged heart, which caused his death. He said doctors had passed him fit to dive in May 2006 and had not picked up on any major medical problems and recorded a verdict of death by natural causes. His widow told the court her husband, a saturation diver since 1997, had flown to the Caribbean to take up a job working on pipelines. She said she had spoken to him on a daily basis in the days running up to his death and he had been complaining about pain in his leg which were stopping him sleeping. "In the 10 days before he died, they had not been diving, he had worked on the decks of the boat. That night in the bar he dozed off. When his friends tried to wake him, at closing time, they couldn't. He was rushed to Port of Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. A post-mortem report, carried out in Trinidad found he died from sudden cardiac problems. A second post mortem, carried out in the UK, was unable to establish the cause of death. Reported in the Blackpool Gazette.
  147. 2006 6 18 Reyes Jose Diego Barria Chile Friosur SCUBA Shellfish cultivation, Elena Island, Cisnes Commons, Aysén Regioner, Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  148. 2006 6 16 Blaauw André USA Superior Saturation South African, first saturation, DSV "Superior Endeavour", closing bottom door at end of bell run, bungee cord caught on bell door, released and struck him in the eye. Permanent loss of sight in one eye.
  149. 2006 6 0 Not Recorded Canada R M Belanger Ltd A construction company pleaded guilty and was fined $25,000 in relation to an unsafe diving operation after an excavator slipped into the water off a barge at Little Current, Ontario. The company hired a diver to recover the vehicle but failed to notify the Ministry of Labour of this operation. An investigation found that the company had not ensured a two-way communication system was in place at the diving site or that workers who could fall into the channel wore life jackets. Fined for failing as an employer to ensure measures and procedures prescribed by the Ontario (Diving Operations) Regulation ere carried out at a diving operation. Additionally, a supervisor also pleaded guilty and was fined $4,000 for obstructing an inspector by providing false information during the investigation. (knowingly furnishing false information, contrary to the Occupational Health and Safety Act).
  150. 2006 5 26 Snow Joe USA Fireman Surface Swimmer “It is with deep regret that we advise you that a rescue-paramedic with Montgomery County (TN) EMS who went overboard during a water rescue attempt this past Thursday night died this morning. Joe Snow, an eight-year veteran was a diver and trained in swift-water rescue. He and a fellow rescue-paramedic were trying to rescue one of two 15-year-old boys who were trapped in the undercurrent below Ringgold Dam. Their raft was capsized by water spilling over the dam, and both paramedics went under. Snow was under water for six to eight minutes before rescuers could free him from the powerful undercurrent. Since then, he has been in critical condition at Vanderibilt University Medical Center in Nashville. The bodies of the teen-age boys were found Friday�. Firehouse Forum
  151. 2006 5 25 Delgado Lt. Nelson Salidas Bolivia Navy Bolivian Navy diver, working on a hydroelectric dam in Chojlla (La Paz). Double fatality (The second was Lt Wilson Uequizo). Unclear why naval divers were carrying out work for a private company (Commanding officers sued in court and two officers - including the commanding officer of the diver training centre - were dismissed) and it seems that the second diver was ordered into the water to rescue the first, but the details of the incident have not been reported though it appears to have been a Dam/differential Pressure, dual fatality. Reported in Elmundo.com
  152. 2006 5 25 Uequizo Lt Wilson Perez Bolivia Navy Bolivian Navy diver, working on a hydroelectric dam in Chojlla (La Paz). Double fatality (The second was Lt Nelson Delgado). Unclear why naval divers were carrying out work for a private company (Commanding officers sued in court and two officers - including the commanding officer of the diver training centre - were dismissed) and it seems that the second diver was ordered into the water to rescue the first, but the details of the incident have not been reported though it appears to have been a Dam/differential Pressure, dual fatality. Reported in Elmundo.com
  153. 2006 5 8 Barria Raphael Chacon Chile Peasuera San Jorge SCUBA Shellfish cultivation, Castro (Teupa chorito cultivation center), Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  154. 2006 4 26 Martinez Stephen USA SCUBA BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. --aged 42, professional golf ball diver hired by the city to retrieve golf balls from a lake was attacked by a 9-foot alligator. The alligator apparently bit the diver's air tank and tried to pull him under the water. The diver tried to stab the animal and it bit his arm, He was treated at a hospital for injuries similar to a dog bite. NB, Mark Feher, also a professional golf ball diver drowned on this course in 2001.
  155. 2006 4 23 Rig 'Maersk Giant' Norway Maersk Jack Up, blow out (Hit shallow gas)
  156. 2006 4 9 Villanueva Lorenzo Chile Pesquera San Jorge SCUBA Salmon fish farm, Hornopiren, Commercial diver, Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  157. 2006 3 21 Seguel Walter Rodrigo Balboa Chile Ventisqueros SCUBA Salmon fish farm, Hornopiren, Commercial diver, Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  158. 2006 2 24 Guarascio Anthony USA Drake associates 11 S/S Air American, aged 24, Delaware River, Camden, NJ, jackhammer concrete, lost air supply, clawed his way to the surface, without air 5+ minutes, coma, 9 + months paralysis, prognosis not reported
  159. 2006 2 20 Love Derrick UK Caldive Topsides Aberdeen-based offshore operator Well Ops (UK) Ltd, formerly Cal Dive International Ltd fined a total of £110,000 at Aberdeen Sheriff Court. Mr Derrick Love age 34, from Invergowrie, died after being struck by a 12m long well intervention tool weighing 370 kg (800lbs) on the offshore multi service vessel, MSV Seawell
  160. 2006 1 14 Du Plooy Derrick South Africa Wealth for You 5 Diamond diver at Alexander Bay in the Northern Cape died after a 5m diameter rock with a fell on him. Pumping diamondiferous gravel underwater, commercial diver and also a contract worker at the mine, working alone at the time of the incident. A mining contractor - anonymous out of fear for victimisation - "Tremendous pressure on the mining contractors to deliver a certain volume of diamonds every month. In the past three years three divers died in the region as a result of the pressure on mining contractors".
  161. 2006 1 9 Swing Rope Fatality USA El Paso Oil & Gas Topsides Swing Rope Fatality, GOM, South Timbalier, block 291 Fatally injured while transferring from motor vessel to platform using swing rope, USCG investigating
  162. 2006 1 2 P J.C.G Spain Aged 31, resident of Beacon, port expansion in Castellon '"Died of suffocation and heart arrest"
  163. 2006 1 0 Not Recorded Spain 15 Quoted in a news report on Telecino.es:- “In the three days so far this year, two divers have died. The first work on expanding the port of Castellón when he died. The second died in Cartagena when diving at 50 feet below the surface, trying to recover an anchor. Two divers in the past three days, but in the last month have killed four in total�
  164. 2006 0 0 Not Recorded Trinidad American, rumour only, No details, thought to be ADC member Double report for Denis Cartright (Below)?
  165. 2006 0 0 Not Recorded USA Gee and Jensen, Cape Canaveral, FL Tangled in piles – were these recreational death(s)? No details
  166. 2006 0 0 Not Recorded USA SCUBA American, diver on tug, two man team, lost tending line/regulator froze, no details. �A few years ago� (Pre January 2007)
  167. 2005 12 17 Atienza Juan Jose Spain Cadiz docks SCUBA Paraphrased from Press reports:-- “At four o'clock Sunday, the rescue services managed to recover the body of the diver who went missing on Saturday afternoon at Cadiz. The diver, aged 49 with 25 years of experience, worked at the factory in San Fernando, but participated in the work of putting ships into Cadiz dry dock (The vessel involved was the 'Rotterdam'). Companions of the diver called emergency services about eight o'clock in the evening because the diver who had checking the vessel's position in the dock failed to surface. Source: diariodecadiz.es/
  168. 2005 12 1 Not Recorded Spain Topsides Paraphrased from press reports:- “Diver killed in harbourside accident. A diver working on the Las Galletas fishing harbour improvement scheme was killed as the result of an onshore accident when he was struck on the head by a large rock. The 56-year-old man died almost immediately and the emergency services called to the scene could do nothing to save his life.� Tenerife News on-line
  169. 2005 12 1 O'Conner Billy Ireland SCUBA Irish, aged 51, searching the wreck of the FV “Rising Sun� (Sank 29/11/2005) for the body of Skipper on behalf of his family, after dive, at 6 metre stop, disappeared. Body recovered some days later by Navy/Guarda dive team. Drowned. Reported by RTE news
  170. 2005 11 24 Jones Zakarij Mason USA PDCoF 60 SCUBA American, Professional Diving Charters of Florida, Ft Lauderdale, Vessel "Pro diver II", He drowned, Contrary to initial USCG report, it was a sports dive, hospital "lost the medical records", reports contradictory
  171. 2005 11 23 Cherapanoy Dmitry USSR Navy 35 Navy diver undergoing compulsory military service, reported as having died in the Northern Fleet because of serious decompression sickness during a training dive to the depth of 35 m. bur report sates “This was an ordinary dive to a standard depth. Unexpectedly, 20 seconds after the dive, the sailor suddenly came to the surface� so was unlikely to be DCI. No details
  172. 2005 11 21 Bustamente Pedro Alvarado Chile Cultivos Marinos Chiloe SCUBA Shellfish cultivation centre, Dalcahue. Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  173. 2005 11 21 Whitekettle John W Romania Titan American, aged 48, Underwater burning in during salvage of the 'Rostok' from the Danube (second fatality earlier, see Eke, 02/01/2005) European press reported his surname as 'Warren', suspect that his full name was John warren Whitekettle (TC)
  174. 2005 11 0 Not Recorded “In November 2005 a diver died following a misunderstanding between the master and the dive team which resulted in the main pump to the vessel’s bow thruster being started in error�. This incident is referenced in MAIB report 3/2009 into the 'Norma' thruster incident in June 2008. No other details
  175. 2005 10 14 Karamanlis Stephen Greece Aged 28, working on a dredger salvage operation in the new shipyards, accident occurred at 04:00 in the morning, transferred to hospital ashore in Rhodes but declared dead on arrival, reported as drowned. No other details. Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Islani
  176. 2005 9 30 Earnest India Excise Aged 30, fisherman, was regularly engaged by the Excise to assist them in raids on marshy areas. Died on raid on an illicit brewery during a crackdown, drowned while attempting to fish out 'wash' stored in jerry cans and dumped into a marsh for fermentation. The team seized 25 litres of hooch from the area. A spokesman of the Excise Department said Earnest's leg got entangled in the net spread on the marsh bed to hold the cans in position. The body was retrieved with the help of the local people after 25 minutes. Reported in 'The Hindu'
  177. 2005 9 29 Butel Russel August Australia SCUBA Paraphrased from press reports:- “The man killed by a crocodile in the Northern Territory was the second fatal attack in less than a week. Russell August Butel, 55, of Darwin, was taken by a five-metre saltwater crocodile about 11.30am yesterday, only five days after British snorkeller Russell Harris, 37, was also killed by a crocodile in the NT. Mr Butel and a companion were diving near Washon Head on the Cobourg Peninsula, about 150km north-east of Darwin, when the attack happened. Mr Butel, professionally dived frequently in his role as an aquarium fish diver.� He was collecting clown fish. Sky News online
  178. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Adriatic VII' USA Global Santa Fe Evacuated before Rita hit, the Adriatic VII was broken from its legs and set adrift. It was found beached approximately 118 NM from its pre-storm location, in shallow waters off the Louisiana coast. It suffered severe damage, including the loss of its derrick, rig floor package and helideck. After the hurricane, the derrick and other rig debris were not salvaged and were marked by the USCG as an underwater obstruction. The hull of the rig was towed back to the Port Arthur shipyard in Texas for inspection. By September 2006, GSF had decided to dispose of the damaged rig and the Adriatic VII was sold to a third party for approximately $30 million. The legs of the rig were subsequently salvaged by Smit in June 2007. Oil Rig Disasters
  179. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Hercules 25' USA Jack Up, Derrick fell onto rig, Hurricane Rita damage
  180. 2005 9 28 Rig 'High Island III" USA Global Santa Fe Like the Adriatic VII, the High Island was evacuated before Rita and was also broken off its legs before being set adrift. It sustained major damage, including the loss of its derrick was found run aground in a self-created trench in shallow waters off the Louisiana coast. The High Island has gone on to share a similar fate as the Adriatic VII. Its derrick was not salvaged and is now an underwater obstruction. The legs of the rig were salvaged in October 2006 by Smit. The hull of the rig was towed back to Port Arthur shipyard, Texas and sat alongside Adriatic VII. By September 2006, GSF had decided to dispose of the High Island III and was evaluating whether to sell the remains or declare the rig a constructive total loss for insurance purposes. Oil Rig Disastersi
  181. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Rowan Fort Worth' USA Jack Up, Beached, wrtten off. Hurricane Rita
  182. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Rowan Halifax USA Jack Up, Beached, wrtten off. Hurricane Rita
  183. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Rowan Halifax' USA Jack Up, Beached, wrtten off. Hurricane Rita
  184. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Rowan Louisiana USA Jack Up, Hurricane Rita damage.
  185. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Rowan Odessa' USA Jack Up, Beached, reported missing, presumed sunk, Hurricane Rita
  186. 2005 9 27 Hurricane Rita USA Category 5 hurricane, 155 mph winds and 60 foot seas. Rita caused significant damage offshore including 66 platforms destroyed, with 32 more suffering extensive damage, 13 MODUs broke their moorings and were set adrift, 1 jackup rig was sunk, with 7 jack-ups and 2 semi-subs experiencing extensive damage. 
Minerals Management Service
  187. 2005 9 27 Typhoon' TLP USA Chevron After the hurricane had passed, an aerial survey found the Chevron Typhoon tension leg platform floating upside-down, around 80 miles from its location in Green Canyon Block 236. In May 2006, Chevron declared that it would be donating the damaged platform to a U.S. Dept. of Interior program which uses old oil and gas platforms in the construction of artificial offshore reefs.
  188. 2005 9 17 Brown Jeremy USA S/S Air American, aged 26, inspecting Falls hydroelectric dam (Badin lake) . Unsatisfactory report “Inspecting the head gates (replaced three years earlier, but sometimes failed to seal properly). Before beginning work, hydro station operators told the diver about an open valve, warning that water could be flowing at that point. (Later interviews revealed that other dive team members were not aware of the danger). Lost comms during the dive, pulled the life line to retrieve the diver - unsuccessful. Decided not to send a second diver when learned that the force of the flowing water could have trapped the diver in the valve opening. Instead, workers lowered the water level to retrieve the first diver. The team found that the diver’s safety harness had gotten caught on a protruding bolt. The snagged harness had negated efforts by the dive team to pull the diver to safety. The diver had been drawn into a gate valve opening by the tremendous water pressure, which led to compressional asphyxia�. Body recovered 4 hours after the initial incident.
  189. 2005 9 9 Rig 'Noble Max Smith' USA Jack Up, Sustained major damage in Hurricane 'Rita'
  190. 2005 8 31 Mars TLP USA Shell The TLP housed both production and drilling facilites, including the Helmerich & Payne H&P 201 drilling rig. The installation was shut-in prior to the hurricane. Katrina toppled the derrick, which caused major damage to the rig floor and substructure. Later inspection found no underwater damage at the platform, but the topside damage was extensive and the platform was expected to remain unproductive until repairs were completed in 2006. Oil Rig Disasters
  191. 2005 8 31 Rig 'Ocean Warwick' USA Diamond Offshore After breaking loose from its moorings in Main Pass Block, the Ocean Warwick drifted 66 nautical miles before finally running aground on Dauphin Island, Alabama.The Ocean Warwick suffered major damage as a result of Katrina, including the loss of its derrick and the eventual removal of the remains of the rig's legs during salvage operations. The Ocean Warwick was towed away on the 10th Oct 2005 to the Atlantic Marine dock yard in Mobile, Alabama for repairs. The rig was inspected and eventually written off in November 2005 due to extensive damage. The rig had been insured for US$50 million. Oil Rig Disasters
  192. 2005 8 31 Rig 'Rowan New Orleans' USA Jack Up, Capssed and Sank, Hurricane Katrina
  193. 2005 8 29 Hurricane Katrina USA The final toll for Katrina was 47 platforms destroyed with 20 suffering extensive damage, 6 rigs broken from moorings and set adrift, 3 platform rigs destroyed and 1 jack-up capsized (Rowan New Orleans), with 2 jackups, 
5 semi-subs and 2 platform rigs suffering extensive damage. Minerals Management Service
  194. 2005 8 29 Rig 'PSS Chenul' USA The PSS Chemul semi-sub was under construction for PEMEX in the Bender Shipbuilding yard near Mobile, Alabama. It broke loose from its moorings during the hurricane was pushed upstream by the storm surge, where it eventually became wedged under the Cochrane Bridge. The rig remained pinned under the bridge for several hours, causing the closure of the bridge. After inspection, the innermost lanes of the bridge were re-opened, with the completion of repairs planned for the end of 2005. Oil Rig Disasters
  195. 2005 8 27 Switala Michael USA Firefighter SCUBA American, aged 50, Lower Burrel, Pa, volunteer fire-fighter, Grove City Quarry, third training dive of the day, (purpose was to maintain PADI qualification). Completed dive, partner signaled ready to surface, he signaled back "OK� and began ascent but once on the surface could not locate Switala, but saw a flashlight distress signal underwater. Immediately descended, noticed that the regulator was out, tried to replace but it fell out, inflated BCD and brought him to the surface (estimated elapsed time at this point was less than one minute).. Taken to shore, immediately initiated CPR. Emergency medical services arrived within 15 minutes. Transported to a local hospital where he died the next day. The coroner listed the cause of death as drowning. Investigation recommended, 1: Fire departments should develop, implement, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding diver training. 2: Fire departments should ensure that each diver maintains continuous visual, verbal, or physical contact with his or her dive partner. (line-tended from the surface or accompanied by another diver in the water) 3 : Fire departments should ensure that a backup diver and ninety-percent-ready diver are in position to render assistance. 4 : Fire departments should ensure that positive communication is established among all divers and those personnel who remain on the surface. (In this incident, there were no personnel at the surface to perform monitoring, and underwater diver-to-diver electronic devices were not used).
  196. 2005 8 24 Stehbens Jarrod Australia University of Adelaide SCUBA Australian, Aged 23, gathering cuttlefish eggs for the university of Adelaide was killed by a Great White. Body never recovered, gear found intact Not wearing a shark repellor. Coroner was Anthony Schapel who recommended divers wear electric shark repellors as recommended by coroner Wayne Chivall after the death of Paul Buckland in April 2002 (Not mandatory, "but should not be discouraged when they are available") AAP General News, Australia
  197. 2005 8 22 Not Recorded Spain German Navy Aged 24, diving off the German Minesweeper 'Homburg' at anchorage off Ageciras (Vessel was en route to Crete to join a NATO task force), described as 'on a routine diving exercise for training purposes in the Bay of Algeciras', diver appers to have suffered a decompression incident, initially treated onboard the minesweeper which then took him to Gibraltar (Because there are at least two Navy decompression chambers wheras there are none in Algeciras), medics from the Royal Naval Hospital Gibraltar met the vessel when it docked at the South Mole but in spite of intensive efforts including the use of a deibrillator, were unable to revive him. Doctors concluded that he had died whilst the ship as still at sea (Onboard the FGS Homburg and therefore on German soil) and the coroner released the body to the German authorities who flew it to Germany on a CL60 military aircraft for a post mortem. No details. Reported by Panorama (Gibraltar)
  198. 2005 8 21 Tychansky Gerry Canada CJ Productions Rebreather Aged 43, during filming of low budget horror movie "Marina Monster" at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club. He was pulled lifeless from the water after towing a film prop shaped like a shark. Natural causes, heart attack, coroner indicated natural causes but also concerns with equipment maintenance
  199. 2005 8 11 Not Recorded Philippines SCUBA A diver looter drowned in Subic Bay near the former US navy base north of Manila when attempting to steal artifacts from the sunken battleship U.S.S. New York which served in the second world war. A local patrol ship found a small boat carrying two diver looters, who were apprehended after a short chase. One of the divers escaped from the patrol-men and drowned “due to his poor diving gear� The other diver was arrested with his looted materials (scrap metal) confiscated. Xinhua News Agency
  200. 2005 8 7 Hernandez Juan Miranda Chile Marine Harvest SCUBA Salmon fish farm, Quinchao, Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  201. 2005 8 7 Priz AS-28 USSR RN 191 Minisub Russian “Priz� class submarine rescue vehicle with 7 crew trapped on seabed insubmarine hydrophone cables off Kamchatka (AS-28 was a 13 metre long submarine rescue unit designed to carry a rescue crew of 4 to transfer personnel from a sunken submarine on 6 hour missions. It was being used with a 7 man crew to carry out repairs to the submarine listening system and was carrying enough compressed air to last them 72 hours). Cut free after 4,500 mile air freight/rescue mission by UK based DSRV crew using Scorpio 45, Royal Navy Submarine Rescue Service, to cut them free, the mission was completed just as the air ran out (they were down to the last cylinder of air), all 7 crew OK. Described in a book, "72 hours", by Frank Pope
  202. 2005 8 5 Maldonado Luis Ojeda Chile Los Fiordos SCUBA Shellfish cultivation centre, Quellon, body not recovered. Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  203. 2005 7 30 Chapman John - entry 1 of 3 USA Triton 5 S/S Air John Chapman. Initially reported simply as "Liftboat, 'somebody' started the engine, umbilical caught in wheel, diver pulled to the surface and killed in the wheel". Further investigation revealed he was British, Aged 31, living in Seattle, diving from a "backup jack-up" vessel to repair a riser in shallow water off Southeast Louisiana near the mouth of the Mississippi River. He was killed when his umbilical was caught in the propeller of the vessel. His death was classified as death resulting from the trauma of the propeller strikes and drowning. The OSHA report summary simply states "On July 30, 2005, Employee #1 was performing supplied-air diving operations in water about 8 to 10 ft deep. The dive took place about 8 to 12 ft from the stern of a twin screw jack-up boat (a boat with the wheelhouse located at the bow of the vessel). A predive safety briefing was held that morning. Employee #1 began a dive at 3:20 p.m. and had been on the bottom about 10 to 15 minutes when his air line was caught by the port propeller of the boat. He was killed. Investigation of the port power-train of the boat revealed that a worn clutch in the port power train resulted in the port propeller turning under the torque of the engine at all times" additional details in entries 2 and 3 below
  204. 2005 7 30 Chapman John - entry 3 of 3 USA Triton 5 S/S Air John Chapman. The Investigation:- The Delise and Hall Investigation concluded that the death of the diver was caused by supervisor error and unseaworthy condition of the vessel. The supervisor testified that he was confused by the configuration of the vessel as a "backup" or "reverse" jack-up vessel and did not realize that the props were at the end of the vessel from which the divers were working. The supervisor was inexperienced and had no certification as a supervisor. A JSA (not done) would have established the risk of a diver diving in close proximity to the vessel's props and would have called for a "tag-out, lock-out" of the vessel's controls (Some experts also suggested that a chain-lock of the prop should have been called for). Even more inexperienced was the dive tender (First job tending a diver, his second day of employment with the diving contractor, had graduated from dive school that week). Evidence indicates that the tender let out approximately three times the usual amount of umbilical hose for this shallow a job thereby allowing the hose to slack and be drawn into the propeller. Without the failure of the vessel's transmission (Propellers engaged – even when not ‘in gear’ - when engine running to power crane) this accident would not have occurred. Additionally, the vessel's captain did not follow company protocol to completely jack the vessel out of the water. He further left the controls unattended while he operated the crane and agreed to position the vessel such that the divers had no real choice but to dive from the stern. All testimony in this case indicated that the propeller "free spin" phenomenon was common to jack up vessels. Witnesses testified as to having observed it previously on other vessels (there had been a similar transmission failure on a sister vessel). The USCG inspect for "free spin". The point vessel owner was aware of the potential danger and failed to warn anyone of such or follow any type of lockout/tag out system. The Delise and Hall concluded that there were seven serious root causes of the fatality:- 1. The dive supervisor's allowance of a work site near propellers without a "tag out – lock out" procedure in place. 2. The supervisor's ignorance concerning the layout of the vessel; 3. The vessel captain's failing to lift the vessel completely out of the water and to allow diving operations to commence with a dangerous "free spin" of the propeller caused by a faulty transmission and/or clutch; 4. The vessel captain's "cowing down" to the general contractor's direction; 5. Failure of the supervisor to follow established policies and procedures established by his employer's Safe Diving Practices Operations Manual; 6. Failure of the diving supervisor to establish and implement a Job Safety Analysis; 7. Failure of the dive supervisor assure that the tender was experienced and familiar with company and industry procedures. reported by Delise and Hall.
  205. 2005 7 30 Chapman John - entry 2 of 3 USA Triton 5 S/S Air John Chapman. The Incident:- The dive plan was to locate a leak in the pipeline, hand jet the pipeline to trace the line and determine if it could be lifted followed by a repair of the leak onboard the vessel.  Due to crossing lines, the main contractor directed that the damaged portion of the line be cut and a clamp installed. This required that the repaired section be lifted from bottom and replaced underwater utilizing divers and the vessel's crane. The three leg jack-up had its wheelhouse at its bow, hence the name "backup jack-up". Unlike conventional jack-up vessels, the propellers of the vessel are located at the opposite end of the vessel from the wheelhouse. The vessel was positioned stern to the platform. The vessel was not, as was required by the vessel owner's operation manual, fully jacked out of the water (which left the propellers in the water). The dive station was set up at the stern in close proximity to the vessel propellers. In order to lift the riser section, it was necessary to utilize one of the vessel's two cranes to lift the riser to the deck of the vessel. The gender felt a tug on the diver’s umbilical followed suddenly, without warning, by the umbilical being jerked from the tender's hand; witnesses testified that soon thereafter they heard the engine "bog" and "thump" under the vessel as the prop apparently struck the diver's helmet.  The dive supervisor, having lost communications with the diver, entered the water and found his lifeless body entangled in the vessel props. Reported by Delise and Hall
  206. 2005 7 26 Kringle Alan USA Anchor Marine Environmental Services S/S Air Aged 16, Reported as recreationally SCUBA qualified 8 months earlier, had been working as a diver for the contractor for 6 months. Four man team working on a lake restoration project. Conflicting press/sheriff reports. One version is that 'he surfaced but then sank', another that the compressor 'just ran out of gas', another that the compressor stopped but had a reserve tank but that for some reason he ditched his helmet, another that only his hands broke surface though there seems to be agreement that as the incident progressed, the surface crew pulled on this hose but only succeeded in pulling up his helmet and discovered he was entangled in another rope, eventually brought to the surface not breathing, no pulse. On site CPR, taken to Orlando Regional Medical Centre, reported as in a critical condition. No further details.
  207. 2005 7 25 DSV "Samundra Suraksha" India ONGC Saturation Mumbai high collision, fire, destruction, 6 divers in sat survived the incident
  208. 2005 7 25 Mumbai High India ONGC Mumbai High platform, DSV 'Samundra Suraksha' collided with platform, riser broken, fire destroyed the platform a rig, a helicopter and the DSV. 22 fatalities.
  209. 2005 7 20 Shaw Scott USA USN Topsides Aged 29, U.S. Navy diver with 11 years decorated service was killed and another injured in a single-vehicle accident at Blackwater USA's training facility in Moyock Wednesday. The Gunner's Mate 1st Class and Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Alejandro Delapena, 23, were thrown from a Jeep as the vehicle rolled on a sharp turn after they had completed training.
  210. 2005 7 19 Atanassov Atanas Middle East FDI Saturation Bulgarian, onboard the "Gulmar Falcon", End of bell run, Heart attack. Discovered to be on medication for high blood pressure.
  211. 2005 7 10 Hurricane Dennis USA Hurricane Dennis was an early-forming major hurricane in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico during the very active 2005 Atlantic hurricane season (Followed by Katrina and Rita). Dennis was the fourth named storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the season. In July, the hurricane set several records for early season hurricane activity, becoming both the earliest formation of a fourth tropical cyclone and the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever to form before August; the lastly mentioned was a title it held for only six days before being surpassed by Hurricane Emily. Wikipedia
  212. 2005 7 10 Thunder Horse USA BP Reported as the largest offshore platform ever built, BP's Thunder Horse was constructed in South Korea before being transported to the Thunder Horse Field in the Mississippi Canyon Block in the Gulf of Mexico. It is an oil and gas production platform linked to 25 subsea wells, and is planned to be the largest producer in the Gulf. Production was initially scheduled to begin at the end of 2005, but this has been delayed due to a ballast control incident around the time of Hurricane Dennis. As the Dennis approached the Gulf of Mexico in July 2005, the rig was secured and the crew evacuated. After Dennis had passed, the rig was found listing an estimated 20-30 degrees. Subsequent inspection found that key valves had failed and allowed ballast water to move inside the platform. Salvage personnel from Bisso Marine and BP boarded the rig on 11 July 2005 and, using powerful portable pumps, removed water from the platform's 185 foot portside columns and stabilised the installation. As a result, production was delayed whilst repairs were undertaken, with the start of production operations in 2007. Oil Rig Disasters
  213. 2005 7 4 Yamashita Takahiro Japan Scientist SCUBA Aged 30, Research scientist (Marine invertebrates) at the University of Tokyo, taking water samples, failed to surface, searchers located his body on the seabed. University of Tokyo report
  214. 2005 6 15 Ong Sgt. Jia Hui Singapore Army Aged 24, Army specialist, training exercise in marine counter terrorism off Changi Naval Base, discovered at around 17:40, stand-by diver sent in and 'found the diver in about 5 minutes'. He was given treatment at the medical centre before being evacuated to Changi General Hospital within half an hour of the incident but was pronounced dead around 19:00. No other details. Straits Times
  215. 2005 6 14 Not Recorded Canada SCUBA Sports diver hired to carry out a commercial dive checking moorings, second dive, lifeline slack, no response, recovered unconscious, hospitalised but survived. No qualifications, procedures, team, stand-by etc
  216. 2005 6 9 Cartes Pedro Vivanco Chile Cammachaca SCUBA Shellfish cultivation centre, Guaitecas, Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  217. 2005 6 3 Cardenas Jr Ciro USA 4 SCUBA Drowned in a drainage pipe, no lifeline or standby diver, scuba gear minus straps, he was holding or dragging his air tank along the 36-inch-wide drainage pipe when he drowned.
  218. 2005 5 31 Millasich David Scott USA On his 44th birthday, went spear fishing (solo) off Paseo del Mar, was found lying on the rocks by a passerby walking his dog. Rolled him over and the saw that he was bleeding from the right side of his chest. The diver managed to tell him that he had slipped and fallen on his own 7" diving knife. Apparently he had pulled it out himself. Died from the wound. Daily Breeze.
  219. 2005 5 22 Not Recorded USA 12 P & A job. No barrier cream on. Quote from second diver: "There was a bunch of red gooey stuff coming out of the pipeline at the cut I was making. It got all over my hat but I never got any burns. Once I saw it coming out I tried to stay away from it. I do know that it burned the hell out of him, and he couldn't dive anymore (on that job). He was in pain just turning his head".
  220. 2005 5 21 Not Recorded USA Subsea pipeline tie-in, crane ops, lost tips of two fingers
  221. 2005 5 6 Karla Vijay Rajaram India Navy A naval Chetak helicopter crashed near Chennai killing all three crew members on board. Lt-Commander D Poddar, who was flying the Chetak, Sub-Lt B Manoj and leading air crew naval diver Karla were killed in the crash at 4 pm. The mishap took place near the Rajali naval air station at Arakonam, about 50 km from Chennai. Times of India.
  222. 2005 4 24 Baker Patrick Allan Canada SCUBA Aged 33, drowned whilst retrieving golf balls at the Saint Andrew by the Lake golf course, Penticton, British Columbia. No other details. Reported by Outdoor News Wire
  223. 2005 4 1 DLB Regina Crane incident India CCC 75 Saturation DLB Regina 250, (Valentine Maritime, Abu Dhabi). Main crane collapsed over sat system dive control, bell LARS and HLB during a two man bell run. Both video and photos clearly show the extent of the damage to the dive system with the crane boom draped over the HLB/sat system. Bell handling system rendered inoperable, divers through-water transfer to a second DSV. Reported that the Regina went to Gujerat for major repairs to the dive system/bell handling equipment and crane before returing to work a couple of weeks later. Sat dive sequence:- Dive 86:- 17:35 Bell Sealed. 17:45 BLS. 17:50 BOB, commence diver lock out. 17:52 Crane collapsed on dive system. 17:55 Bell sealed at 75m. 17:57 Divers report 'OK". 18:25 Main bell wire secured on surface. 18:30 standing by on DSV "Sevak" for through water transfer. 19:39 DSV "Sevak" on site. 20:13 After discussion between Supv/Supt of both vessels, decide to use "Regina" bell umbilicals/helmets for transfer. 21:44 "Sevak" diver established swimline to "Regina" Bell, 21:55 Diver 1 in water, 22:02 Diver 1 in "Sevak" bell. 22:14 Diver 1 umbilical and hat secured back onto "Regina' Bell by "Sevak" diver. 22:18 Diver 2 in water. 22:22 Diver 2 in "Sevak" bell. 22:44 "Sevak" diver secured diver 2 umbilical onto "Regina" Bell, 22:45, transfer complete. The second DSV was the 'Samudra Sevak" (built 1988, 11 man Comanex dive system) which was also on hire to ONGC at the time. PC
  224. 2005 3 30 Not Recorded Kiribati Aged 29 “A diver died in Suva last night after he was airlifted from Kiribati with a serious decompression illness. He worked for a diving business owned by a former Kiribati diplomat on the island of Tabiteuea Meang.� No details
  225. 2005 3 21 Not Recorded USA Gulf Offshore Logistics Overboard fatality Overboard Fatality, Mustang Island, crew boat attempting to tie up to platform boat landing, crew member leaning over side to tie up, fell overboard, crushed between boat and boat landing.
  226. 2005 3 15 Picallo Sgt. Justo Jesus Indonesia Spanish Navy SCUBA 36 year old Naval officer, part of tsunami relief force, conducting a routine hull cleaning and inspection dive on the MS “Galicia� off Band Aceh. No details
  227. 2005 3 0 Horst Lt Cl Richard van der Norway UK SBS British serving officer, NATO exercise with a Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (SDV), a US miniature submarine, pilot + Navigator, rear compartment with up to 4 divers using personal breathing apparatus (submarine does not have life support equipment), pulled unconscious from the water, died 6 days later ("fluid in the lungs").
  228. 2005 2 15 Wolmarans André South Africa Subtech Diving and marine SCUBA South African, aged 19, Durban harbour, cleaning the propeller of a fishing vessel, "someone inside the vessel accidentally activate the propeller". He was standing on it at the time, it took police divers 7 hours to find his body. Outdoornewswire.
  229. 2005 2 3 Butel Russel Australia SCUBA Paraphrased from the press reports:- “The family of a commercial diver killed by a crocodile in the Northern Territory last week says he had extensive experience in Top End waters and was not foolhardy. Russel Butel, 55, was collecting live fish with his dive partner off the Coburg Peninsula on Thursday afternoon when he was killed by a salt-water crocodile. He was the second person taken by a crocodile in Northern Territory waters in less than a week. Mr Butel's family has released a statement saying he fell in love with the tropical waters of the Top End during a visit to Gove in the 1980s, prompting him and his partner to open a local dive shop. The family says Mr Butel's experience in Territory waters was extensive and he was not foolhardy regarding his safety and that of his crew�. ABC Regional on-line
  230. 2005 1 22 Toisa Polaris UK SS7 Topsides During mobilisation of a Deep water ROV for West of Shetland a 440V supply was inadvertently de-isolated. No physical injury, but potentially lethal. Very open incident report from SS7 and one of the guys involved, good example of a working and positive safety culture
  231. 2005 1 6 Ohryn Thomas USA Fred Devine diving and salvage 3 S/S Air Salvaging a fishing vessel off California, crushed between FV and derrick, air supply cut off plus crushing injuries.
  232. 2005 1 2 Eke Anthony James Romania Titan Underwater cave in during salvage of the 'Rostok' from the Danube (Second later fatality, Whitekettle, 21/11/2005)
  233. 2005 0 0 Coursey Adam USA Crushed leg, DC?
  234. 2005 0 0 Not Recorded France Aplomb 4 Commercial diver recovering car from inland lake.
  235. 2005 0 0 Rig 'Gulfwind' Chile Jack Up incident off Chile, no details
  236. 2005 0 0 rig 'Transocean VII' Jack Up, Sank or wrecked?
  237. 2004 12 21 Not Recorded Global Industries 36" pipeline cracked resulting in pressure differential incident. Safety flash from Global industries on ADCI website and OD
  238. 2004 12 12 Fukai Naoyoshi Japan SCUBA A 48-year-old fisherman (diving for lobsters) was caught in the screw of a 1.2T fishing boat and died soon after off Ukishima beach in Nishina, Nishiizucho, Shizuoka Prefecture. Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. No details, not sure whether this was a sports dive (Not included in professional 'count' TC)
  239. 2004 11 12 Watts Superior Saturation Injury claim and counter claim, court case, no details
  240. 2004 11 5 Not Recorded USA Killed in a lift boat propeller accident
  241. 2004 10 15 Moore David UK Sea Technical Services for British Waterways 3 SCUBA British, aged 29 from Southsea, Hampshire, trapped under collapsed temporary dam on the Upper Lode lock gate (near Tewkesbury) during draining operations. British Waterways, the diving contractors and the diving supervisor all pleaded guilty to breaching Health and Safety and Diving at Work regulations. The supervisor was also the owner and director of diving contractor which employed divers paid on a daily basis. The diver was involved in construction work on the upstream side of a temporary dam, the water had been drained from the lock basin down to a depth of 0.3 metres. This meant there was a differential of more than three metres with the water level on the other side of the dam and this exposed leaks in the dam which the diver was sent down to seal. The diver suddenly shouted out and then there was a flood of water shooting out from the downstream side of the dam. The umbilical went tight and colleagues could see he had stopped breathing, they tried to pull him to the surface but it was impossible because of the pressure trapping him against the dam. They realised that the standby diver would face the same enormous pressure if he went in so took the decision to equalise the pressure first by closing the lock gates and opening a central gate - all of which took 15 minutes. Mr Moore was then flown by air ambulance to Cheltenham General Hospital but never regained consciousness. Four months later when the scene was finally safe to examine in detail it was found that the only place where the hessian seal had been effective had been in the centre of the lock. This was because the floor of the lock was convex and sloped down towards the edges which prevented the hessian seal being effective and leaks then occurred which caused the intense water pressure on the diver. "Hessian seals were known to be effective only if equally compressed along their length which would clearly require a level lock floor, however, these concerns were not recorded and they don't appear to have been considered by engineers or communicated to the dive teams, who had no previous experience of hessian seals." British Waterways had failed to carry out sufficient risk assessment, the contractor failed to protect its divers during the whole period of the project from September to October 15 and too had failed to carry out adequate risk assessment, the diving supervisor failed to ensure the dive site was safe, that there was a risk assessment for the dive, that the materials used were adequate and safe and he failed to obtain sufficient information about the hessian seal before committing the diver to the water." British Waterways were fined £87,000 with £75,000 costs, the contractor £15,000 with £6,000 costs and the diving supervisor £6,000 with £2,000 costs. Comment from the judge “"It is particularly grave when the events leading to his death were in my judgement so obviously avoidable, as this prosecution has demonstrated� Reported in the Daily telegraph, BBC, British Press, etc
  242. 2004 10 6 UK Diver UKCS Prosecuted by the HSE, forged HSE part II, 12 month custodial sentence.
  243. 2004 9 15 Giri S. India Technip Saturation DSV "Seamec III", Bell contamination, BIBS off, unconscious, fell out of bell, floated to surface, died. Paraphrased from a report sent privately:- DSV Seamec III (Formally PS III, Nand Rewant, Shearwater Topaz) chartered long term to ONGC, pipeline leak location dive. Diver T.B. Shinde locked out and located the leak (pin prick hole at 6/0c position on the pipe). Seabed contaminated by crude oil deposits resulted in the diver's excursion umbilical being smeared with hydrocarbons. Diver returned to Bell after about 4 hours, Bellman (S. Giri) retrieved his umbilical and having noticed the crude oil deposits went on bibs. Diver entered to bell and went on bib after removing his Gas Services Reclaim Hat. After consultation with supervisors, it was decided that the umbilical would be cleaned by Bellman and Diver with Bell at depth (Reports indicate that the cleaning took 40 minutes, method of cleaning not known). Having completed the cleaning, both diver and bellman removed their bibs and blacked out. Sat supervisor on surface watched Mr. Giri drop out of the bell while Mr. Shinde lay in the bell in an unconscious state. Nearby DSV Samudra Suraksha was called for assistance. ONGC rep. on Suraksha briefs superintendent who prepares for through water transfer as the means of recovery for the unconscious diver. DSV Samudra Suraksha reaches site of incident and recovers Mr. Giri from the surface on board after launching the Zodiac. Mr. Giri is recompressed immediately in Samudra Suraksha's saturation system. Dr. Kulkarni (Hyperbaric advisor) and Seamac project team fly to site of incident. Samudra Suraksha saturation divers lock out and perform Bell Through Water Transfer and recover the unconscious diver back from Seamac III bell to Samudra Suraksha's diving bell. Diver is taken into Suraksha's sat system being administered by Dr. Kulkarni who was blown into sat to administer support to Mr. Giri. Dr. Kulkarni pronounces Mr. Giri as clinically dead. Mr. Shinde survived and was decompressed on Samudra Suraksha. It is not known why the the divers took off their BIBS or why the Bell was not flushed by the divers or the supervisor. PC. No official report in the public domain
  244. 2004 9 15 Hurricane Ivan USA Hurricane Ivan passed through the Gulf of Mexico as a category 4 storm, with waves and winds which matched or exceeded the 100-year design criteria of many installations. A weather buoy near the Ensco 64 measured 83 foot waves. The final toll of offshore rigs exacted by Ivan was seven platforms destroyed, six with major damage, five drilling rigs with major damage, including the Ensco 64. Oil Rig Disasters
  245. 2004 9 15 Medusa Spar USA Built to operate in deep water, the Medusa Spar is located in 678m of water in the Gulf of Mexico and was capable of handling 40,000 barrels of crude per day. Prior to Hurricane Ivan, a Nabors Industries workover rig had been installed on the platform. This rig was toppled during Ivan, sustaining extensive damage and causing some minor topside damage to the Medusa Spar. The workover rig was to be removed and the damage repaired in autumn 2004
  246. 2004 9 15 Rig 'Ensco 64' USA Ensco The Ensco 64 was drilling the Main Pass 280 #5 well. As the rig was lying directly in Ivan's path, the Ensco 64 was secured and evacuated prior to the storm, which included laying down drillpipe from the derrick, setting a storm packer and skidding the drilling package back in. As a result of Hurricane Ivan, the Ensco 64's main hull was sheared off its legs before being set adrift with the remains of two legs hanging below. The third leg was completely lost and the derrick and drillfloor were toppled onto the upper hull. The rig was eventually found 40 miles south of its pre-Ivan location. The rig was stacked in Brownsville, Texas until April 2005, when it was declared a constructive total loss for insurance purposes. In July 2005, Ensco sold the rig to Blake Drilling & Workover Co., who planned to renovate the rig and rename it "Blake Champion" Oil Rig Disasters
  247. 2004 9 15 Shinde T. B. India Technip Saturation DSV "Seamec III", Bell contamination, BIBS off, unconscious, through water transfer to bell of DSV "Samudra Suraksha", recovered OK. araphrased from a report sent privately:- DSV Seamec III (Formally PS III, Nand Rewant, Shearwater Topaz) chartered long term to ONGC, pipeline leak location dive. Diver T.B. Shinde locked out and located the leak (pin prick hole at 6/0c position on the pipe). Seabed contaminated by crude oil deposits resulted in the diver's excursion umbilical being smeared with hydrocarbons. Diver returned to Bell after about 4 hours, Bellman (S. Giri) retrieved his umbilical and having noticed the crude oil deposits went on bibs. Diver entered to bell and went on bib after removing his Gas Services Reclaim Hat. After consultation with supervisors, it was decided that the umbilical would be cleaned by Bellman and Diver with Bell at depth (Reports indicate that the cleaning took 40 minutes, method of cleaning not known). Having completed the cleaning, both diver and bellman removed their bibs and blacked out. Sat supervisor on surface watched Mr. Giri drop out of the bell while Mr. Shinde lay in the bell in an unconscious state. Nearby DSV Samudra Suraksha was called for assistance. ONGC rep. on Suraksha briefs superintendent who prepares for through water transfer as the means of recovery for the unconscious diver. DSV Samudra Suraksha reaches site of incident and recovers Mr. Giri from the surface on board after launching the Zodiac. Mr. Giri is recompressed immediately in Samudra Suraksha's saturation system. Dr. Kulkarni (Hyperbaric advisor) and Seamac project team fly to site of incident. Samudra Suraksha saturation divers lock out and perform Bell Through Water Transfer and recover the unconscious diver back from Seamac III bell to Samudra Suraksha's diving bell. Diver is taken into Suraksha's sat system being administered by Dr. Kulkarni who was blown into sat to administer support to Mr. Giri. Dr. Kulkarni pronounces Mr. Giri as clinically dead. Mr. Shinde survived and was decompressed on Samudra Suraksha. It is not known why the the divers took off their BIBS or why the Bell was not flushed by the divers or the supervisor. PC. No official report in the public domain
  248. 2004 8 20 Rig 'Jim Cunningham' Egypt Semi Sub, Blow
  249. 2004 8 17 Fleming Adrian Canada Atlantic Fisheries SCUBA Canadian, aged 45, working on moorings in Bay Bulls harbour, Newfoundland, Drowned. The boat tour company was prosecuted for employing an unqualified diver. “He was inspecting moorings for a boat-tour company when he died and his death has once again brought to the fore the concerns surrounding diving work — work that provincial legislation says should be done by fully-equipped commercial divers, and the work that is actually done on an almost daily basis by divers who are neither fully equipped nor trained to the standard required by that legislation.� “All the regulations in the world won't save a life if they aren't enforced. That's a point that has already been made too many times in this province. In fact, if it is clear to all that no one is responsible for enforcing them, the toughest regulations in the world really aren't worth the paper they are printed on.� “Atlantic Fisheries Ltd. was charged with seven counts of violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The charges followed an investigation of the occupational health and safety branch of the government services department. A government statement said the charges "relate generally to its failure as an employer to ensure that its workers were made familiar with the hazards that may be met by them at the workplace, and to ensure the diving operation was conducted in accordance with the requirements of the related Canadian Standards Association code." The diver was not registered with the Diver Certification Board of Canada, the body that recognizes commercial divers. Reported by press and CDNN
  250. 2004 8 10 Rig 'Adriatic IV' Egypt Jack Up drilling in the Med. Blowout. Subsequent fire destroyed the rig and the Temsah platform
  251. 2004 8 0 Rosenbaum Anthony USA Caldive 70 "Caldiver II", 3rd degree burns, law suit, Broco BR 22 defective manufacturing plus bad technique
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