Storm Survivors

An Australian government investigation is under way following complaints that workers on an offshore drilling rig were forced to stay on board last week during cyclone Monty, which lashed the northwest coast.

More than 70 personnel on the Ocean Epoch semi-submersible battened down on the rig, preparing to drill Exeter-4 for a consortium led by Santos.

Semi-submersible drill rigs are usually towed from between locations and do not operate under their own steam.

The West Australian Department of Industry and Resources said yesterday Santos was being investigated for alleged violations of cyclone safety procedures.

A departmental official said complaints were received from the rig last week and telephone interviews had begun with workers and workplace safety representatives.

A spokesman for Santos said that as the cyclone developed quickly, discussions between the company and the rig operator, Diamond Offshore, had led to a decision that the rig crew would be safer on the Ocean Epoch rather than being ferried ashore by helicopter in winds predicted to reach 200km/h.

The Ocean Epoch, originally built in 1977 in Mobile, Alabama, was extensively modified and upgraded in Singapore four years ago.

The rig is set up to take the Sikorsky S-61 helicopter which can carry up to 28 people depending on how it is configured.

The departmental investigation is likely to take several weeks.