Off the Nigerian coast, a monumental oil production ship known as the Bonga had been routinely transferring oil from the seabed to a tanker ship. However, in a distressing turn of events, a substantial leak emerged between the oil lines of the two vessels. Owned by energy behemoth Shell, this incident saw the crew realize more oil was being transferred from Bonga than the tanker was receiving, and an oil sheen on the water confirmed the problem. It took an hour more before the oil transfer was halted, by which time a staggering 40,000 barrels had escaped into the Atlantic Ocean, as per an English High Court evaluation. This accident in December 2011 marked one of Nigeria’s most severe spills in ten years, with the oil slick expanding over 685 square miles (1,776 km²), covering twice the area of New York City. The Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) was subsequently fined $3.6 billion by Nigerian regulators—a decision currently under appeal.
More than a decade later, a confidential review of Shell’s fleet of production ships, including the Bonga, highlights unaddressed safety issues. Internal company safety audits alongside whistleblower accounts revealed issues existing as late as three years ago. These uncorrected problems, such as oil transfer systems and firefighting equipment faults, are eerily similar to the deficiencies that led to the 2011 spill. An internal report in 2022 identified maintenance and safety issues across Shell’s vessels, critiquing the lack of coherent standards and processes. Critical transfer systems, previously implicated in the massive spill, were deemed “high risk” in 2022. Unfortunately, the specifics of Shell’s safety improvements since the recommendations were not disclosed.
Shell’s safety audit illuminated recurring incidents across other vessels too. For instance, on the Fluminense near Brazil, “severe corrosion” afflicted pipes and protectors surrounding oil tanks. Off the U.S. coast, a 2016 incident severely burned two workers. Meanwhile, Australia’s Prelude gas production ship faced a 2021 fire and ongoing safety concerns related to chemical exposure and explosion risks, prompting regulatory demands for better safeguards. Shell acknowledged a dedicated safety team oversees Prelude but offered no additional insights. Other incidents, such as the Sea Eagle in Nigeria taking on seawater needing quick repairs, underscore systemic safety concerns.
Shell faces litigation involving a wrongful dismissal claim by Irina Woodhead, a safety engineer who advised on Prelude’s safety prior to the fire incident. Woodhead asserts she was terminated for voicing these safety shortfalls; Shell disputes this, pointing to poor job performance as the cause. Adding to the gravity of her claims was the earlier fire where preventive systems failed, leading to seven individuals requiring medical care. Woodhead warned of potential future disasters without proper equipment upkeep.
Reports of issues go beyond individual vessels. Safety consultant Caroline Dennett, who ran safety culture surveys for Shell since 2012, noted declining performance perceptions. Worker surveys from the Bonga over various years reflected deteriorating scores in nine categories, with particular fears about inadequate manpower and the vessel’s condition. Concerns expressed directly by workers tagged Bonga as “a keg of gunpowder,” pressuring production managers to promise intervention. Despite assurances, the 2014 survey reflected worsening sentiments and a recognized need for substantial safety improvements.
Shell’s internal measures attempted addressing these through thresholds in survey evaluations to trigger swift action, relying on legal and safety experts’ guidance. However, these measures were omitted by 2018 following legal suggestions. Hence, calls for immediate action dwindled despite significant percentage of negative responses persisting, causing concern among safety specialists. The company maintained that its relentless safety attention underpins its culture, clarifying that these documented evaluations and recommendations aim to enhance safety proactively. While recognizing sector-wide accolades for its standards, Shell’s safety assurance remains a debated topic amid these reports.