Four crew members lost their lives after the jackup barge Admarine 12, owned by Saudi oil and gas driller ADES, capsized on Tuesday evening approximately 300 km south of the Suez Canal. The incident occurred near Ras Ghareb on the African side of the Gulf of Suez, about 130 nautical miles from the southern entrance of the Suez Canal. Egyptian authorities confirmed that the sinking is not expected to disrupt maritime traffic through the vital waterway.
The Offshore Shukheir Oil Company (Osoco), which had contracted ADES for drilling operations, reported the incident to Egypt’s petroleum ministry. ADES stated that the 1966-built barge was under tow to a new location when it capsized.
Of the 30 personnel on board (18 from ADES and 12 contracted workers), 23 were safely rescued, while three remain missing. Search and rescue efforts, supported by the Egyptian navy, are ongoing. Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafy confirmed that survivors were transported to hospitals for medical treatment.
The tragedy claimed the lives of four crew members, including three ADES employees and one contracted worker. ADES expressed its deepest condolences, stating, “We extend our deepest condolences and sincere support to the families and colleagues of those affected by this tragic incident.”
Local reports suggest the barge was en route to the Ashrafieh platform for a gas field development project when a technical failure during towing caused instability, leading to the vessel’s rapid capsizing. Investigations into the cause are likely to follow as recovery efforts continue.
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