TRANSOCEAN DRILLING RIG INVADED; 86 STAFF BEING

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000936 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS GPERSON AND CGAY STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2016 TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER NI SUBJECT: TRANSOCEAN DRILLING RIG INVADED; 86 STAFF BEING EVACUATED Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (D & E) ¶1. (C) Managing Director Kevin Wink of U.S. firm, Transocean Inc., confirmed armed community members invaded a Transocean rig, Trident 8, offshore Bayelsa State on the evening of July 3. Approximately 86 expatriate and Nigerian staff have remained locked down since then, and are being evacuated today by helicopter. There are approximately 10 expatriates onboard the rig, including at least two Americans. The company hopes to have all personnel evacuated by nightfall, weather and helicopter assets permitting. Transocean has reported no casualties. However, security sources reported sporadic gunfire near the rig, and armed community members moving at will in the vicinity of the rig. ¶2. (C) During the initial attack, community members briefly captured about thirty Nigerian Naval personnel and two Naval vessels. ¶3. (U) Transocean is a leading provider of offshore drilling rigs, and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The Trident 8 is under contract to Conoil Nigeria, a leading Nigerian indigenous oil company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Conoil's Managing Director also confirmed the incident. BROWNE