Paria Fuel Trading Limited (Paria) advises that operations continued throughout the night
(Tuesday March 1st) to recover the fourth diver Rishi Nagassar who was part of an LMCS Limited
crew conducting underwater maintenance at #36 Sealine riser on Berth #6 at Paria’s facility in
Pointe-a-Pierre.
Given the complexity of this operation and the many variables to be considered, including
environmental challenges, Paria has dedicated significant resources to ensuring that we recover
Mr. Nagassar’s body responsibly and respectfully.
Throughout the night consultation meetings were held with other technical experts to review
alternative methods, while ensuring that the body is recovered. We have attempted on several
occasions, using remotely operated cameras to try and locate the body, but have not been
successful.
As we commence the next phase in the recovery process, we are mindful of the careful and
respectful retrieval of the body in a manner that minimizes any impact to the environment.
This incident has taken significant toll on the families and loved ones of LMCS employees who
were involved, and we extend our deepest condolences to them at this extremely difficult time. We
have committed to providing family members with counselling support during this time.
As a Company, we are also very mindful of the undue pain and anguish that can be caused when
speculation and misinformation persist in the public domain. We take this opportunity to urge the
public and interest groups to be thoughtful of presenting or sharing misinformation to the various
media platforms. We also give the assurance that we will continue to provide updates, first to the
families, and to the public, on the progress of the recovery operation as new information comes to
hand.
We continue to express our deepest sympathy with the families of the divers in this time of
profound loss. Our thought and prayers are with them.