Trip to FSU Nautica Muar

It was day 282 & 283. Having gotten myself to join the investigation team in Johor Bharu on 9th Oct, the investigation team together with representative of the vessel owner mobilized to Jetty Pasir Putih to board a so called Water Taxi to Nautica Muar the next day. We departed early from Renaissance Hotel and reached the jetty at 8am, and we have to wait for the other staff from the contractors to join us. First impression that I had when I reached there was, how on earth are we going to endure 7-8 hrs journey, using the Water Taxi. The facility in the jetty was a far cry than the facility that was once the embarkation point to offshore platforms in Miri, which is Pulau Melayu Wharf. PMW has no longer serve as PETRONAS embarkation point as the Operator license to operate a passenger jetty has been revoked by Sarawak River Board. At Pasir Putih Jetty, there is a proper boat landing jetty, but we have to transfer boat to boat in order to be onboard the designated boat. The water Taxi are docked and moored side by side to each others. As compared to Pulau Melayu, only one boat is allowed to pick up passengers and all the passengers have to cross a gangway to be on board of the designated Water taxi Not much of risk to take if you are boarding at PMW, but generally it was also safe to transfer at Pasir Putih jetty, considering the water of Johor Straits was relatively calm that day.

Before the journey started, I went to the Jetty toilet, and clear whatever remainings inside the gut.  There is no toilet in the Taxi, and you have to endure hours should you have stomach upset in a "civilised" manner. When this has been taken care of, you should have only little issue to deal with when you are already on the boat.

Khanif the team leader interviewing the witness

We sailed off from the jetty, with many curious thoughts in our mind as none of us has ever experienced travelling in the water taxi in Johore water. I personally looked forward to the trip, as I have not much issue travelling by boat for long hours. My body seems to have adapted to living or rather travelling in boat, after spending countless hours travelling by Fast Crew Boat going to offshore facilities. But I always do take note that that I am also susciptible to the after-effects of boat travelling amid spending few days living offshore. It includes disorientation, drowsiness, "pitching and rolling" effect when you are standing on firm ground. Other than that I should enjoy the scenes during the travel and capture few photos to add my many photo collection of working in offshore. 

We reached Nautica Muar approximately after 2 1/2 hours travel, as compared to earlier estimation of 6 hours. From a far, we can see how majestic is the FSU, but the closer we were to Nautica Muar, all the concerns and stories that I heard about the vessel came back to haunt me. It just made me realized the reason we were here. When the boat nearing the boat landing area at the starboard side (left) of the vessel, immediately I could remember what Sammy have told me about it. The boat landing deck of the vessel is definetly much more smaller than the work boat boat landing platform, and offshore platform boat landing as well. The other challenge of transfering to the FSU boat landing, we literally have to jump the boat barrier which is about 1/2 feet high to land at the boat landing of the vessel,Nautica Muar. Fortunately that day, the water was very calm, which did not require for you to jump to the boat landing platform instead you just have to step on the boat barrier as the swell was not that high, probably less than 1m. To reach the Nautica Muar main deck, it requires you to face few obstacles like you would normally seen on obstacle track i.e climbing monkey ladder, and walk through a makeshift slanting ladder towards the end of the track. Though not as challenging as obstacle track in game show, the thoughts that if you fall from the platform into the sea keep flashing on my minds. The nervousness did not subside as I could see there was a few sign of corrosion at the gratings and ladder, and there is only handrail in the form of chain at knee length as your hand could grab on as I walk and climb my way to the main deck. I slowly collecting the strength and soon realized that,actually it was not that scary since the water was as calm as still water. Once I reached the main deck, It was like you have reached a pinnacle of a mountain. I was overjoyed but manage to keep it to myself. A look at the surrounding of the main deck gave you a slight chill. The vessel was eerily silent, the deck looked rundown and I could see a few equipments lying on the main deck. However a glimpse on the surrounding water, amazed me till now as the scene was very breathtaking. I could still see Johor shore as we are only 4km away. If we were allowed to capture a photo, I would probably take a few shots from the main deck but it is prohibited to do so. I keep reminding myself that I was standing on top of the most hazardous material which was crude oil cargo.

As the day progress, we conducted interview session with the witnesses. Our target for the visit was to establish the sequence of event that lead to the incident based on the interviews that we conducted. In any normal interview session with  witnessess, we need to analyse the facts, like answering puzzle as often we heard conflicting statements from different witnesses when asked to describe the same turn of event, mind also the exact time when the incidence happen. At some point, when were analysing the documents, we had to do a "forensic" analysis in order to establish the fact by removing  weak evidences. Truly a challenging task for the team. Without allowing element of mala fide' in the context of investigation, we just took note of all the words coming from all the witnesses. At the end of the day we want to provide a credible report to the management with relevant way forward which we hope such incident will never happen again. 

We stayed overnight there at Nautica Muar, as per plan and will continue with the investigation the next day. All the member from SK Oil Operation were assigned in a 5 bed-room accomodation. Quite cosy as we had a good night sleep that night. Probably the reason for a comfortable sleeps that we had was probably it was after a long day of boat ride and digesting the information from the interview session, it was definitely a tiring day.  The only slight interruption was probably from the snoring of Khanif. Since his bed was a distance away from others, we just considered the noise as a minor one.

The next day, we started with the site visit where the location of the incident happened. We observed the setup of the ventilation system on the day of incidence and watched the demonstration how the gas testing was done. At first there a few personnel from the investigation team planning to go down into the tank, due to various reasons. Hardy, the team member from Vestigo wanted someone to go down and collect some samples of the sludge. Khanif meanwhile wanted to take a closer look at the scene inside it, in order to get a clearer picture and view. From the manhole which situated on top of the tank, it was pitch black. You can't see anything from the mouth of the manhole. By entering it, and by bringing in torch light, than probably you could get clearer view of  what transpired that day from the witness statement. Initially Akmal, the other team member volunteered to go down, considering he has experience in entering cofined space, unfortunately or fortunately the plan was halted, as we do not want other incident to happen as we were not sure what was below there. So we scrap off the idea of sending someone down, into 20m deep tank.

After the visit to the incidence site and many information that we gathered through queries during the visit, we headed back to the war room to continue with the interview session. As the interview session progressed and hearing the other witnessess account on the incident, we finally concluded the investigation at 1400 hrs. With the information which we had gathered, disected and analysed for past two days when we were on-board, we shared recommendations and way forward to ensure the unfortunate incident will never happen.  As they say, one incident is one too many.  I personally think after going through the expirience, those marine and contractor has received my utmost respect. Their hardship amd danger that they have gone through,it shows how important for you to plan your work amd fully understand hazards involve and the most important think is to know what does your procedure says. The lesson learn apply to all regardless what job are you doing. Follow the recommendations, you will ensure the safety of your aubordinates will not be compromised. Enough said.

At 1530hrs, we parted our way and headed down to the boat landing at the sea deck. We needed to go through the same drill that we had when we climbed our way to main deck the day before. Everything went smooth, as we have already anticiapated the hazards and what to look out as we climbed down. Once everybody was on-board on the water taxi, we sailed off our way back to Pasir Putih Jetty, the same embarkation point.