A tragic incident occurred on the evening of Tuesday July 7 resulting in the loss of life of four people when a barge capsized while being towed, according to Saudi Arabia-headquartered oil and gas drilling services provider ADES.
Ades Holding Company has announced that a towing incident occurred involving the barge unit Admarine 12, owned by its subsidiary and operating within Egyptian territorial waters.
The incident took place while the jackup barge was being towed to a new location and resulted in its capsize.
At the time of the incident, 30 personnel were on board, involving 18 from ADES personnel.
“At the time of this announcement; 23 have been safely rescued, 3 remain missing and subject to intensive ongoing search operations by the relevant authorities and Tragically, the incident resulted in the loss of life, including 3 fatalities among ADES personnel and one fatality among personal contracted by third parties,” the company said on July 2.
The affected barge and personnel are comprehensively insured under the group’s existing insurance program, and at this stage, the company does not expect any material impact on its financial position or published guidance for the fiscal year 2025, ADES said.
The company is working closely with the local authorities and emergency services, whilst an investigation into the incident will be conducted.
Egypt’s ministry of petroleum and mineral resources was informed about the incident, mentioning that it is currently monitoring the developments of the situation, taking the necessary actions in coordination with the specialized authorities and its affiliates in the region.
The incident occurred around 130 nautical miles from the southern entrance of the Suez Canal and has not disrupted navigation along the trade route, the Suez Canal Authority chairman and managing director Ossama Rabiee said in a statement.
ADES noted that it is offering comprehensive support to the families of those impacted by this tragic event. “We extend our deepest condolences and sincere support to the families and colleagues of those affected by this tragic incident,” it said.
“The company is working closely with local authorities and emergency services, with the safety and well-being of all personnel remaining its highest priority. A full and thorough investigation into the incident will be conducted,” ADES added.
