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NATIONAL oil corporation Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) confirmed that a fatal incident occurred at approximately 12.50pm yesterday during maintenance works involving a rescue boat at the Sepat Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) unit located at the Sepat oilfield off the coast of Terengganu.
The victims were among four contractor personnel who were onboard the lifeboat while preparing to descend beneath the offshore platform for maintenance work when the vessel suddenly detached and crashed into the sea.
The deceased were identified as Ahmad Fiqri Zakaria, 38, from Taman Merdeka Batu Berendam in Melaka, Muhammad Faezuan Hakim Mohammad Bustamam, 28, from Jalan Kampung Jawa in Kuantan, Pahang, and Nik Muhammad Hafifi Asri Ab Majid, 37, from Bandar Indera Mahkota, Kuantan.
A fourth victim, Mohd Taufik Mohd Ruslan, 37, from Banting, Selangor, survived the fall but suffered severe injuries, including fractures, and remains under medical supervision at Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah.
In a statement issued today, Petronas said all four contractor employees were involved in the incident.
“It is with deep regret that three personnel were confirmed dead upon arrival at Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah, Kuala Terengganu at approximately 5.57 pm yesterday, while one injured personnel has been transferred for medical treatment and remains under observation,” the company said.
Petronas added that investigations into the cause of the accident were being carried out in cooperation with the relevant authorities.
“Petronas extends its deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased victims.
“The company’s immediate priority is to support the welfare of those affected,” it said.
Earlier, Kuala Terengganu police chief Assistant Commissioner Azli Mohd Noor said the incident occurred while the four workers were inside the rescue boat stationed on the platform before descending into the sea to conduct maintenance work beneath the structure.
“However, the rope or hook attached to the boat is believed to have suddenly detached.
“The incident caused the boat and all the victims to plunge into the sea,” he said.
Rescue teams were subsequently deployed to the location and managed to retrieve all four workers from the water before bringing them back onto the platform.
The victims were later airlifted by helicopter to Sultan Mahmud Airport at around 4 pm before being rushed to the hospital’s emergency unit for treatment.
“Three of the victims were later confirmed dead while another suffered serious injuries,” Azli said.
Police have classified the case as a sudden death report pending the outcome of further investigations.
Post-mortem examinations on the three victims were scheduled to be conducted this morning.
The tragedy is expected to renew scrutiny over offshore operational safety standards and emergency maintenance procedures in Malaysia’s oil and gas industry, particularly involving lifeboat systems and contractor risk management at offshore production facilities. - May 25, 2026