The incident occurred due to the failure of a wire on the crane that was suspending the submarine in the seas off Australia.

A serious incident recently occurred in the seas off Australia when a subsea module, umbilical lines and a crane cable sank to the seabed due to a failure in the main crane wire of a third-party vessel. The event, which occurred on September 19, involved a main crane failure while it was lifting the subsea module of a lightwell intervention (LWI) deployed on a vessel owned by Expro, a UK energy services provider, according to the Offshore Energy website.

Fortunately, there were no injuries during the incident in Australia. At the time of the failure, the submarine module was suspended approximately 15 meters above the seabed. Expro, responsible for the operation, carried out an initial inspection with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) which confirmed that the equipment stopped in a safe location on the bottom of the Australian sea. However, the incident had significant consequences.

Assessment and recovery plan underway on Australia submarine

Expro took immediate action by suspending all ship-deployed LWI operations. The company is now working closely with relevant stakeholders and independent experts to assess the incident and develop a recovery plan for the submarine in Australia. Part of this process will include conducting a detailed investigation of the incident and disclosing additional information, including financial impacts, as part of your quarterly report.

Expro CEO, Michael Jardon, reinforced the company's commitment to safety and environmental protection. He expressed relief that the submarine incident did not result in personal injuries or hydrocarbon leaks into the well. The company acknowledged that the introduction of the vessel-deployed LWI system has faced challenges, but highlighted that customer interest in cost-effective subsea intervention solutions and vessel-deployed LWI remains strong.
Although the incident presented significant challenges, Expro is committed to addressing the situation responsible way and safe. The Australian company is determined to carry out a thorough investigation and explore alternatives to its LWI services. This event serves as a reminder of the importance of safety and constant vigilance in the offshore energy industry.