Kelvin Peter, Warri
A vessel belonging to a yet-to-be identified oil and gas company has been gutted by fire in Escravos, Warri South-West council area of Delta state.
A video of raging inferno on the vessel which berth outside the Escravos Bar of the Atlantic, went viral online over the weekend.
It was not clear if workers were onboard the vessel when the fire broke out.
Feelers are that the barge is a jack-up vessel belonging to an indigenous contractor.
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Sources said that, “the vessel is owned by Michharry and Company Nigeria Limited, an offshore and onshore oil and gas facilities provider.”
When reached on its contact phone number which was obtained from a ‘business list’ website, the company refused to speak on the development.
An official of the company, who picked up the line, but refused to disclose his name, told our correspondent that he can not discuss the incident, and ended the call.
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“I am not disposed to discuss that and more so, today is Sunday. We don’t work today. How did you know the incident is related to Michharry? You can talk with the sources. I have no comment on that. Thank you.”
The cause of the inferno, exact time it started and the level of damage, including loss of lives, that may have occurred are yet to be ascertained.
Meanwhile the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), says it is investigating the incident, when contacted on Sunday.
The Warri Zonal Controller, Engr. Antai Asuquo, who spoke to Our correspondent via telephone said, “with the COVID-19 lockdown, the agency is having constraints in accessing the location.
“The barge is not owned by Chevron Nigeria Limited, as their findings has so far, revealed”.
The Zonal Controller said “As it is, we can’t really say anything until we conclude our investigation. By Tuesday or Wednesday, we should be able to get the full details of what happened there”.
“Honestly, I don’t know if the fire is still on. All I have gotten is what people are saying. We are liaising with our head office to know who owns the barge and to team up. We are trying to even get a helicopter to fly over it to know exactly what the situation is. When we get the full details, we could talk with you thereafter”.
