Jack Up Rig VELESTO NAGA 7 Sinks

by | May 4, 2021 | Maritime Law

The jack up rig VELESTO NAGA 7 sunk on May 3, 2021 while offshore the Malaysian state of Sarawak.  At the time, the vessel was performing work for Houston, Texas based ConocoPhillips.  The vessel had not begun drilling operations, but was in the process of positioning itself on location.  One of the legs punched through the ocean floor resulting in the vessel tilting, before eventually going under the surface of the water.

The VELESTO NAGA 7 is a jack up drilling rig built in 2015.  The vessel is operated by Velesto Drilling, and the registered owner is Velesto Drilling 7 L Ltd.

There have been a number of recent incidents involving vessels.  There was a boating accident in Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana on March 6, 2021, resulting in one death and four passengers sustaining injuries.  A pilot fell while attempting to board the bulk carrier LORD NELSON on March 7, 2021. A pilot fell while attempting to disembark from the bulk carrier MARIA GS on March 14, 2021.   Two crew members sustained serious burn injuries on board the bulk carrier RAPALLO on April 7, 2021.  Two crew members were injured on the bulk carrier APL SOUTHAMPTON on April 8, 2021.  A fire broke out on board the container ship INTERASIA CATALYST beginning on April 5, 2021.  A recreational boat struck a barge and capsized on April 10, 2021 in Savannah, Georgia.  The jack up boat SEACOR POWER capsized on April 13, 2021 south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana, with search and rescue operations continuing.  There was a vessel collision on the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky on April 17, 2021, killing at least one passenger.  A recreational boat capsized off the Florida coast on April 17, 2021.  There was an explosion on board the yacht Carpe Aura on April 16, 2021.  There was a fire on board the container ship PRESIDENT EISENHOWER on April 28, 2021.  There was a fire on the commercial fishing vessel NOBSKA on April 30, 2021.

Safe maritime companies must perform regular maintenance and inspections in order to ensure the safety of their crew members.  When ship operators fail to conduct regular maintenance and inspection of the equipment on their vessels, dangerous incidents can result.  This not only puts the lives of hardworking seamen at risk, but can also endanger members of the public.

Our experienced lawyers handle maritime personal injury and wrongful death litigation of all kinds and the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives or those who have been seriously injured as a result of the negligence of another party. The lawyers of Spagnoletti Law Firm have handled maritime lawsuits throughout the country.  Our attorneys have extensive experience in maritime injury and death cases involving jack up rigs.

The experienced and aggressive vessel accident attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of this tragic accident. There are strict and short time limits on making claims related to vessel accidents, so please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or 877-678-5864 to learn more about your rights.