Seismic project completes…
Crew change in about a week…
Client goes home…

…NOT!  Ahh, Nigeria!

Okay, well, the job did complete and masterfully so.  The last few days of production topped all expectations.  The client was pleased and, hopefully so, contractor management was pleased.  The crew, hmm, not so pleased.

Nigeria decided to go on nationwide strike to protest the removal of fuel subsidies.  The price of Petrol at the pump almost doubled and the people just couldn’t afford the increase.  Not just a strike though, a major shutdown of the country.  No government offices open; airports, waterway ports, businesses, land transportation, everything on hold.

With government offices closed the vessel cannot get clearance to leave the country.  Who knows when clearance will actually be issued?  What about fuel, food, other supplies?  What does that mean for our seismic crew?

New project can’t yet start…
Crew change cancelled, crew shifts to 6 weeks on 6 weeks off schedule…
Client stays with crew (also can’t go home)…

Ahh, Nigeria!

Questions arise now, at least in the crews mind if not out loud.  Will we really get home after 6 weeks or are we still going to be in nowhere land onboard the seismic vessel?

It isn’t looking too good from news outlets either.  The meeting between the strike unions and the President did not result in a settlement plan.  That means, if the plan follows through, that all oil field workers will stop work.  This raises the specter of rising oil & fuel prices all over the world.  Income to the government of Nigeria will be reduced to a pittance.

Right now the crew waits, not much else they can do really.  Wait and hope for the best.  That is what the author is doing.

The day started out a very nice day and ended that way as well.  It is what happened in the middle that made it memorable; a day whose events will not soon, if ever, be forgotten.

It was a nice cool and sunny day.  Calm seas and little wind.  Perfect for doing the necessary workboat activities required when starting with a new prospect and new configuration.  The required toolbox meeting was held on the bridge where the crew of three heading out on the workboat discussed what projects would be performed while out.  There was a TS / Dip required because the one done the previous day did not reach the bottom, a contractual requirement.  Filming of the Monowings was also in the plan.

One of the many incidents one does not want to see happen on a Seismic Vessel, or any vessel for that matter, is a man overboard situation.  There are drills run all the time in preparation for something that everyone hopes will never be executed as the real thing.  Today would be different.

The general alarm was sounded and the message announced on the ships intercom, “The workboat has capsized”.  This was no drill.  Just what we had practiced for during our many drills had now become a scary reality.  The rescue team donned the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and headed for the Fast Recovery Boat (FRB).  They were safely launched and on their way to the workboat in a time that beat all the drill times for speed.

Meanwhile the ships crew were on the back deck, some with binoculars and some with camera zooms, noting that the three workboat crew members were on top of the capsized workboat.  Everyone was very glad to know they were still together and with the workboat.  The FRB recovered the three and brought them back to the mother vessel.  All of this was done as practiced and in safe record time.  The three crew members were back aboard and everyone was grateful they were safe.

An additional team was formed for the second workboat and both the second workboat and the FRB were launched to recover the capsized workboat.  The workboat being towed back to the mother vessel is pictured.  There are additional pictures: seismic pictures.

The fact that the crew made it back safely is a tribute to the training the crew receives and the management that supports a safe working environment.  Without these things in place the day could have turned out much worse; hats off to all those involved.