Marine Accident Report - Capsizing and Sinking of the U.S. Drillship GLOMAR JAVA SEA in the South China Se, 65 Nautical Miles South-Southwest of Hainan Island, People's Republic of China, October 25, 1983

摘要

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the sinking of the United States drillship GLOMAR JAVA SEA during Typhoon LEX was the decision by the master, the Atlantic Richfield Company drilling supervisor, and the Global Marine drilling superintendent to maintain the drillship at anchor at the well site with all nine anchors, which subjected the vessel to the full force of the storm and allowed it to capsize to starboard as a result of severe rolling while experiencing a 15 degree starboard list from an undetermined cause. Contributing to the large loss of life was the failure of the master, the Atlantic Richfield Company drilling supervisor, and the Global Marine drilling superintendent to evacuate nonessential personnel from the GLOMAR JAVA SEA before the weather conditions deteriorated sufficiently to make evacuation dangerous.