An in-depth investigation is currently underway into the death of a worker at a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Pembrokeshire. Seven men were rescued in the incident at South Hook LNG in Milford Haven, which occurred at 3pm on Saturday 6 October. Five men were pulled from the water and following an extensive search, Dyfed Powys Police recovered the body of a 44 year old Dutchman on the following Sunday night. The man had been working on a maintenance platform, known as a jack-up barge, alongside a jetty at the site when it collapsed.
Safety experts and management are currently assessing the impact on work at the terminal, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have launched their own inquiry into the fatal incident. Coastguard crews, police, fire and ambulance teams joined Milford Haven Port Authority (MHPA) in the search for the missing sub-contractor, which had to be suspended on the Saturday due to weather conditions. The port was closed to all traffic and an emergency situation was declared. A number of vessels including three tugs were sent to the scene of the collapsed barge, which was in danger of capsizing. As a result, an exclusion zone was established around it so salvage experts could assess the situation. However the port was able to reopen on Sunday afternoon.
There is currently a 2,000 litre diesel tank in the water, which remains intact. However the Environment Agency and MHPA are monitoring the situation.
