The Trinity Spirit sank after being literally engulfed in flames. The tanker, built in 1976, was used as a floating production, storage and offloading unit at the Ukpokiti offshore terminal, located in the Niger Delta, Nigeria.
The cause of the fire is believed to have been caused by an explosion which broke out on board on 2 February for reasons which have not yet been clarified. There were ten sailors on the vessel. Their fate is still unknown.
The FPSO Trinity Spirit, owned by Shebah Exploration & Production Company Ltd (SEPCOL), is a tanker capable of processing up to 22,000 barrels of oil a day, with a 2 million barrel stowage capacity.
SEPCOL confirm the FPSO Trinity Spirit has exploded off the coast of #Nigeria this morning, 10 reportedly killed. pic.twitter.com/bqe3bZPzQf
— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) February 3, 2022
Translation by Giles Foster