Wells: BMA to conduct safety investigation of Grand Bahama shipyard incident

Wells: BMA to conduct safety investigation of Grand Bahama shipyard incident
Renward Wells, Minister of Transport and Local Government.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On the heels of an accident at the dry dock of the Grand Bahama shipyard which injured eight persons, Minister of Transport and Local Government, Renward Wells said a safety investigation of the incident will be launched by The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA).

Chaos erupted at the Grand Bahama shipyard on Monday, April 1, after a crane collapsed at the shipyard’s dry dock.

According to Grand Bahama police, eight employees were injured but none of the injuries were life threatening.

At the time of the collapse, repairs were reportedly being carried out on the Oasis of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships in the world

In a statement issued Thursday, Wells said as both the floating dock and the passenger vessel are registered with the BMA, and given the damage sustained and the potential severity, it was concluded that a marine safety investigation will be conducted in accordance with The Bahamas Merchant Shipping Act and the Casualty Investigation Code.

“In light of the above, I have requested the BMA to conduct a safety investigation of the incident and to report their findings, including any recommendations, to avoid recurrence,” Wells said.

Meanwhile Wells said his thoughts and prayers are with the injured and all parties affected by this unfortunate incident.