Search widens for missing rig worker

THE search has widened for Well Service Petroleum Company Ltd employee Pete Philip. Philip was left unaccounted for following an early-morning partial collapse of the company's offshore platform, Rig 110 on December 22.

An update from Well Service on December 24 said it was still engaged in "active search and rescue operations" which had since been broadened with the inclusion of T&T Salvage.

According to the company's website, T&T Salvage is a national, US Coast Guard-recognized, Salvage and Marine Firefighting (SMFF) service provider.

Newsday understands the company is not only assisting in the search and rescue efforts but in responding to the incident as well.

Meanwhile, the lone survivor of the Paria accident which claimed the lives of four divers, Christopher Boodram, is urging authorities to "leave no stone unturned" in locating Philip.

Boodram told Newsday the incident reminded him of the tragedy which befell him and his Land Marine Contracting Services Ltd co-workers while working on an underwater pipeline at Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd on January 25, 2022. He said he wished he could dive into the water and help search for Philip.

"I hope that he’s found alive and I’ve been in constant prayers to the lord for his safe return."

Boodram, Kazim Ali Jr, Fyzal Kurban, Rishi Nagessar and Yusuf Henry were sucked into a large pipeline by a sudden and rapid change in pressure while performing maintenance work on the pipeline.

In an update on December 23, Well Services said the Hunters Search and Rescue Team (HSRT) were also engaged in the search for Philip.

HSRT head Vallence Rambharat said while the company reached out to them on Sunday evening, the team began searching earlier in the day. He said a ten-member team were conducting foot patrols along the shore between Cedros and Point Coco, Granville. He said this was being done in conjunction with two volunteer fishermen who were searching the shoreline with their vessels.

"The foot patrols is to reach those areas that you can't see from the boats because down there has many cliffs and stuff so that's why you have to use foot patrols as well."

Unfortunately, he said their searches so far have come up empty-handed.

"We'll try our best to continue the shoreline patrols as much as we can. We asked the fisherfolk in both Cedros and Point Fortin to remain alert, just in case they could find something that would lead us to locate Pete Philip."

Newsday was unable to speak with any of Well Service's officials when visiting its South Oropouche headquarters on December 23 for further details on the search and rescue operations. However, workers said the entire company was hurting over the tragedy and they believed the company would do "whatever it takes" to find Philip.

One of Philip's Goerge Street, La Romaine neighbours, who did not want to give his name, told Newsday the worker "must be found."

"My pores and thing raising. I can't even talk bout the man. It's something nobody expected."

His wife, Kandasie, and their four children did not appear to be home when Newsday visited on December 23.

Philip's mother was also not at her home further down George Street, neighbours said. It was possible, however, that they were down at the Trinmar Marine Base, Point Fortin where the response to the disaster was being co-ordinated.

Well Services said Philip's family is being kept in the loop and are being provided with support and counselling.

A statement from the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries said permanent secretary Penelope Bradshaw-Niles visited the incident command centre at the base where she met with Philip's family. It did not say which members of his family or what time the meeting was.

The ministry's release also said it remained "fully engaged in assisting both Well Services and Heritage Petroleum Company Ltd by providing 24-hour support for the Rig 110 incident response."

A Heritage update on December 23 said its incident management team and dedicated business support were set up at the base in Point Fortin. It said the team of over 25 staff was being led by its midstream business unit leader and included the head of the drilling department and the head of the health, safety and environment department.

So far, Heritage said it provided nine support vessels which were used in the initial rescue of the 74 Well Services personnel aboard the rig and remains involved in moving material, equipment and personnel; surveying; providing security; monitoring for oil spills; and emergency response.

It said the company was also using its contractors to provide topside drone surveillance and subsea surveillance with divers and remote-operated vehicles.

Up to press time there were no further updates on if Philip was found.