Reliance's brand new FPSO vessel collides, no one injured

New Delhi: A brand new floating production system of Reliance Industries Ltd was involved in a minor collision with a barge off the east coast, but no one was injured and project work has not been impacted, the company said.

The Ruby floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel destined for the deep-water MJ gas condensate development in the KG-D6 block in the Bay of Bengal, was involved in a collision with an accommodating barge, causing minor damage to the vessel. "Due to rough weather, the gangway from the accommodation barge Nor Goliath got lifted and made contact with the staircase on the FPSO causing minor damage to the stairs," a company spokesperson said. Promptly, Nor Goliath, the spokesperson said, pulled away along with the gangway. The gangway was secured back on Nor Goliath and inspected.

"Further, there was no personnel injury and there is no impact on the overall project schedule and commissioning," the spokesperson added. FPSO is a giant ship that not just has machinery to help produce oil and gas lying below the sea surface but also living quarters and work stations. Gangway is a raised platform or walkway providing a passage. MJ is the third and last of a set of discoveries that Reliance and its partner BP are developing in the eastern offshore block.