US authorities expected to seek access to injured oil rig workers

MANILA, Philippines - US federal authorities are expected to request access to three injured Filipino workers as part of efforts to determine what really happened in the Nov. 16 oil platform fire in the Gulf of Mexico that left three other Filipino workers dead, the Philippine embassy in Washington said yesterday.

The embassy said it has been informed that the Bureau of Safety and Environment Enforcement (BSEE) of the Department of the Interior has made initial inquiries to check on the condition of the three Filipinos being treated for serious burns at the Baton Rouge General Hospital in Louisiana.

Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Cuisia Jr. made the statement as hospital authorities announced that the condition of two of the three Filipino workers, who were previously in the serious list, continues to improve.

Cuisia said Renato Dominguez, 52, and the other Filipino, whose name was not disclosed at the request of his family, are now in fair condition while the third worker, Wilberto Ilagan, 50, remains in good condition.

“We expect our kababayans to tell investigators everything they know so that we could all get to the bottom of this tragedy,” he said.

According to the Ambassador, three other Filipinos who were with the six victims when fire broke out on the platform owned by Houston-based Black Elk Energy gave their statements to BSEE investigators before they returned to the Philippines a few days after the incident.

Cuisia had rejected insinuations that the fire was a result of the incompetence and poor command of English of the Filipino workers.

He said the workers, who were under contract with Grand Isle Shipyard Inc., have extensive experience in the offshore oil industry and have undergone proper safety and language training.

“If Filipino offshore oil workers are incompetent as some want the public to believe, then why do we have many of them helping maintain and operate oil platforms and support vessels in the Gulf of Mexico as of now?” Cuisia said.

Two Filipino seamen perish

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that five people died, including two Filipinos, two Poles, and a Ukrainian, when the 485-foot Baltic Ace sank Wednesday in international waters off the Netherlands’ southern coast after colliding with the 440-foot container ship Corvus J near busy shipping lanes.

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said 13 seafarers were rescued, including five Filipinos.

“Those who survived are now on their way to Rotterdam in the Netherlands and our embassies in Brussels and The Hague are in touch with authorities to ensure that adequate assistance are extended to the Filipino victims,” Hernandez told reporters.

The DFA withheld the identities of the Filipino seafarers.

The Dutch Coast Guard said the bodies of five sailors were recovered. Two of the dead sailors were found in survival suits designed to protect their wearers fully.

Officials of the Philippine embassy in The Hague visited on Friday the five rescued Filipino crew members at their hotel.

“Although they look tired, they are physically well. Arrangements for their repatriation are being undertaken, with expected arrival this weekend,” said Hernandez in a text message.

The DFA said the Dutch Coast Guard has called off the search for missing crewmen due to inclement weather. Seven crewmen remain missing, including three Filipinos.

The presumed death toll is 11, taking into account the missing and five bodies found.

Hernandez said the repatriation of the remains of the two seafarers who died is being processed.

“The management of MV Baltic Ace assured our seafarers that due compensation will be given them,” he said. 

One thousand four hundred new cars, mostly Mitsubishis from Japan and Thailand, also went down with the Baltic Ace as it sank in around 15 minutes in freezing seas.