Shell, a leading oil company, operates a fleet of massive ships that are permanently moored over oilfields globally. These vessels are responsible for receiving oil extracted from beneath the ocean floor and transferring it to oil tankers. However, internal documents highlight significant concerns about the safety protocols of these ships.
In 2011, a significant event known as the Bonga oil spill occurred near Nigeria, illustrating potential risks. A pipe linking Shell’s production ship, Bonga, to a tanker developed a leak, which went unnoticed for over four hours, resulting in the discharge of 40,000 barrels of oil into the Atlantic Ocean. The subsequent oil slick stretched over 685 square miles (1,776 square kilometers), roughly twice the size of New York City. This catastrophic event led to a $3.6 billion fine, which remains under appeal to this day.
An internal review conducted in 2022 revealed ongoing issues within Shell’s fleet of oil production ships, even a decade after the Bonga spill. Criticisms pointed to “continuously deficient” firefighting, lifesaving, and oil transfer systems onboard the Bonga vessel—the very systems that failed in 2011. Expert Tony Cox, specializing in offshore oil accidents, expressed concern given that oil transfers are a known risk and potential point of failure. The review mentioned “recurring incidents” on other vessels, such as severe corrosion in a ship off Brazil and an accident in U.S. waters that left two workers with moderate to severe burns. Furthermore, Shell’s Prelude, a gas-producing ship anchored off Australia, suffered fire-related issues in 2021. The internal assessment attributed these problems to a “lack of clear and established standards and processes.”
Employee surveys conducted by Shell since 2012 also highlighted worries regarding safety and maintenance. The surveys, measuring employees’ perceptions in ten performance areas, showed that from 2012 to 2021, employees’ confidence in the company dwindled across nine categories. By 2021, about 59% of workers on the Bonga vessel felt maintenance was lacking, and over half were concerned about the onboard resources and expertise.
In response, Shell emphasized a decline in accidents aboard the Bonga vessel from averaging one per year to none after 2018 and noted a 90% reduction in spills since 2020. The company maintains that safety experts oversee the Prelude, while the Brazilian vessel has been decommissioned. Shell also clarified that the U.S. incident does not represent its cultural ethos. Despite the aforementioned concerns, more than 90% of survey respondents in 2021 had a positive outlook on the Bonga’s safety procedures.
Rich Howe, Shell’s vice president for deep water operations, reiterated the company’s commitment to safety, emphasizing that a “relentless focus on safety” is a fundamental component of Shell’s culture and is “widely recognized.” He stated that the internal reports and surveys serve as evidence of this ingrained culture.
Shell remains committed to upholding safety standards and addressing concerns, as evidenced by their continued improvements and strategic responses to past incidents.