Nigerian navy prepares to attack oil rig

The Scotsman ^ | 5/01/03 | FRANK URQUHART

[Pro-Bush]

Nigerian navy prepares to attack oil rig THE Nigerian navy was last night preparing to seize the THE Nigerian navy was last night preparing to seize the strike-hit oil rigs off West Africa, where 35 British hostages have been warned they will be killed if there is any attempt to take the installations by force.

Warships were ordered into the area after talks in Lagos failed to bring about a peaceful end to the wildcat dispute.

Nigerian oil workers on the four US-owned drilling rigs have threatened to blow up at least one of the platforms should it be boarded. A total of 97 foreign nationals - including 35 British oil workers - are being held hostage on the rigs. Last night, fears for their safety dramatically heightened - despite claims by both the US drilling company, Transocean, and the Foreign Office that the navy had no plans to take direct action.

Jake Molloy, the general secretary of the North Sea oil workers’ union OILC, who has been in contact with the families of the British oilmen, said the decision to resort to "gunboat diplomacy" could end in bloodshed.

He added: "There are now real concerns for the safety of all the men on board these rigs. The Nigerians have already threatened to blow up one of the platforms if there is any attempt to take it by force. They have indicated they will endeavour to repel any attempt to force them off. It is a very scary situation."

One Scottish oilman had earlier e-mailed OILC with the terse message: "Make no mistake of the danger we’re in. If they [the strikers] have lost everything, they will make sure we lose everything. And that means our lives."

The Nigerian navy deployed the warships after talks between senior officials of the country’s oil union and Transocean broke down after four hours.

Captain Shinebi Hungiapuko, a Nigerian navy spokesman, said they "will do what we have to do".

The dispute began on 16 April on board the rig MG Hulme and quickly spread to three others rigs, the Sedco 709, Trident VI and Trident VIII.

The foreign nationals are confined to their accommodation areas and can only venture out on deck with the permission of the strikers.

Food and water are said to be running low.

[Pro-Bush]

"They are just basically going mental - going round the rig chanting, singing and ringing the strike bells."

Hope they blow away these freaks!

[Only1choice____Freedom]

I am totally shocked and amazed!



Nigeria has a navy?

[SengirV]

Typical press idiots, unable to keep it in their pants. Hey, can you please publish the exact time the attack with occur? Why am I even asking? Of course they will publish it.

[kevao]

Nigeria has a navy?

Yes, but no worries -- it's not a very big ship.

[Pro-Bush]

[river rat]

Yes, it may not be very big....

But -- you can hear the cadence drummer for the rowers for miles!

And, if you send your bank account numbers -- they will send you a video of the battle..

Semper Fi

[SpringheelJack]

Nigeria has a navy?

Just a rowboat and a child's life preserver.

[TheBattman]

I sure wish we could get some of our guys over there to handle the situation. I fear that the Nigerian navy will just make things worse....

[tommix2]

I used to work for Transocean including West Africa. I worked on one of the rigs involved, the Sedco 709. I am retired now.
Two of these rigs are jackups which means they are in shallow water up to 200 to 300 feet depth. The other two, the MG Hulme and the Sedco 709 are semisubmersibles and could be way off shore in deep water. The MG Hulme is a US flagged vessel. The other three are Liberian flagged. Another news item said they are 25 miles off shore.
It seems to me this is tecnically mutiny. If the hostages are confined to the quarters there is no way the mutineers could get in. But there is no food in the quarters and only one mess. The mess hall crew is probably Nigerian.
The hostages have sent emails which means they have access to the bridge.
The mutineers are unarmed because they could not have brought arms on board. I think a trained assault team could board and surprise the mutineers with no casualties on either side.

[Pro-Bush]

Bump!

[husky ed]

If you start calling off letters & numbers ie. B-5, can you eventually sink their fleet?

[VaBthang4]

Nigerian Navy?

Jesus H. people you need to pray!

This is a classic Navy SEALS mission.

[John H K]

Or the SBS. Damn shame they have egos too big to allow them to call in some professionals.