12 missing as Chevron-contracted vessel sinks

12 crew members of the a tug boat contracted by Chevron Nigeria Limited are still missing three days after the ship sank off the coast of Delta State.

West African Ventures, owners of the vessel, attributed the incident that happened on Sunday to  'rough seas' off the coast of Nigeria.

Chevron had  earlier in a statement confirmed the Jascon-4 capsized early on Sunday due to “heavy ocean swells.”

According to Chevron, the accident occurred while the vessel was “performing towing operations” at a mooring point around 30 kilometres off oil-producing Delta State.

As spokeswoman for West African Ventures said,   'unfortunately all twelve crew members are still missing.

Rescue operations involving sea divers are still on-going and a full investigation into the incident is taking place.'

Reuters tried to question Chevron Nigeria about the incident, but they were unwilling to give any update.

Nigeria is the largest oil producing country in Africa and oil revenues have helped to develop its economy and infrastructure.

Chevron, in various joint ventures with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp, spends about $3 billion each year on its on and offshore operations; which in 2012 produced a total of 238,000 barrels of crude oil, 165 million cubic feet of natural gas and 4,000 barrels of liquefied petroleum gas.
Chevron Nigeria Limited's 2012 net daily production from Nigeria was 238,000 barrels of crude oil, 165 million cubic feet of natural gas and 4,000 barrels of liquefied petroleum gas.

West African Ventures Limited is an indigenous operating company of Sea Trucks Group, an international group of companies offering offshore installation services to the oil and gas industry worldwide.

The company founded in 1977, has employed more than 2,500 employees, according to a statement on its website.
The Sea Trucks Group has offices in Nigeria, Angola, Ghana, United Arab Emirates, The Netherlands, United States, Australia, Singapore and China.

The group also owns and operates a large and versatile fleet of marine construction and supply vessels, large cargo barges, as well as supply bases and fabrication facilities in Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.