SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

R&R Marine's repair yard in Port Arthur

A repair job gone wrong has led two offshore companies and an insurance provider to file suit against BP Consulting Inc. (Business Productivity Consulting)and Sabine Offshore Services.

R&R Marine Offshore Inc., Ensco Offshore Co. and St. Paul Travelers claim BPC and Sabine negligently caused a crane boom to collapse during the repair session of an offshore drilling rig. The companies filed suit in the Jefferson County District Court on Jan. 28.

According to the plaintiff's petition, in January 2006 R&R had a master service agreement with Ensco to repair and refurbish Ensco's Rig 86, including work on the rig's derrick and drill floor. The work was being performed at the R&R Marine yard in Sabine Pass.

BPC was also engaged to perform some of the refurbishment work including maintenance "building" and galvanization of the derrick. Sabine provided various services to R&R Marine, including furnishing a crane and crane operator, the suit said.

Sabine undertook the operation of lifting the derrick onto the rig on Jan. 25, 2006. During the lift, the crane's boom collapsed causing the derrick to fall onto and across the rig floor causing substantial damage, the suit said.

"Under the terms of Master Service Agreement with Ensco, and as a matter of its customary course of business dealings with Ensco, R&R Marine repaired the damage caused by BPC's and the Sabine entities' failed lift," the suit said. "The incident and resulting damages described above were proximately caused by BPC' s and/or the Sabine entities' negligent, careless and reckless disregard of their duties during the lifting operation."

The suit lists the following acts of alleged negligence committed by BPC and Sabine: