Relatives of Deepwater Horizon Disaster Flyover Site One Year Later

Posted in Alabama Maritime News,BP British Petroleum,Deepwater Horizon,Florida Maritime News,Gulf Coast,Louisiana Maritime News,Mississippi Maritime News,Transocean on April 20, 2011

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Relatives of oil rig workers who perished in the explosion and fire of the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010 are being flown over the site of the disaster one year later.

Transocean, Ltd, the company who owned the ill-fated oil rig has invited up to three members of each family to attend the flyover. A helicopter was used to transport them to the spot where the disaster occurred in the Gulf. It was expected that the helicopter would circle the site a few times.

Although there is no visible marker on the surface to mark the spot, on the sea floor there is a memorial wellhead cap with 11 stars – one for each oil rig worker who died.

This solemn event occurs exactly one year after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, following the explosion and fire and subsequent sinking of the oil rig which was operated by BP Plc (British Petroleum). The bodies of the Deepwater Horizon 11 were never recovered.

The loss of the oil rig and 11 men aboard was followed by the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

To mark event on this day, vigils are also being held on land in four states: Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama.

Sources for this story include:
WalesOnline.co.uk