The semi-submersible accommodation vessel Floatel Jupiter, housing 713 workers and containing over 2,100 barrels of diesel and kerosene, sank in the Gulf of Mexico in mid-April after a control valve in its port pontoon failed and the pontoon became flooded.
Because the water depth at the unit’s position, 80km from Ciudad del Carmen in Mexico, is only 38m deep, some of the vessel’s superstructure remains above water and salvage is not expected to be difficult. The semi-submersible was completely evacuated without injuries during the incident, when it was realised that pontoon bilge pumps would be insufficient to counteract the ingress of water.
Floatel Jupiter is owned by Cotema, SA, and was being operated by Mexican state-owned oil giant Pemex at the time of the incident.
