KUALA LUMPUR (July 19): A commercial diver was reported to have passed away while performing repair work on a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel offshore Malaysia for one of Petroliam Nasional Bhd's (Petronas) upstream unit. 

Citing a health, safety and environmental report from the national oil company, energy portal Upstream Online on Tuesday (July 19) said the deceased was one of two commercial divers working on the FPSO in Malaysian waters.

"Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd (PCSB) confirms that a fatal incident occurred at the Bunga Kertas FPSO facility, offshore Terengganu, at approximately 12.30pm on July 5,” Petronas told Upstream.

“A contractor, who was undertaking underwater repair work for PCSB at the FPSO, was found unconscious by rescue divers, and was given immediate medical attention. However, it was later confirmed that the contractor had passed away,” it added. 

Petronas told Upstream it did not issue any statement on the “unfortunate incident”. However, it was reported that an investigation was under way into the incident.

Based on the Upstream report, the fatal accident reportedly occurred when the diver was performing an adapter mating test. 

While positioning the adapter, it suddenly lost its buoyancy and sank, with the injured diver seen sinking together with the adapter to a depth of 55 metres.

The injured diver was rushed to the decompression chamber on the nearby diving support vessel, and received medical treatment, but was later pronounced dead.