Three killed after lifeboat falls from Petronas FSO off Malaysia

Three workers were killed and another seriously injured after a lifeboat accident onboard the Petronas-operated floating storage and offloading (FSO) vessel Sepat offshore Malaysia on May 25, 2026.

The accident occurred at approximately 12:50 PM local time during maintenance operations at the FSO located off the coast of Terengganu. According to Malaysian authorities, four contractor workers were inside a lifeboat preparing for descent when the suspension system reportedly failed, causing the lifeboat to detach and plunge into the sea.

Emergency response teams rescued all four workers from the water and transported them by helicopter to Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah in Kuala Terengganu. Three workers were declared dead upon arrival, while the fourth worker sustained serious injuries and remains under medical treatment.

Petronas confirmed the incident and stated that investigations are underway in coordination with relevant authorities to determine the exact cause of the accident. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also called for a thorough investigation into the offshore safety incident.

The accident has once again highlighted safety concerns surrounding lifeboat maintenance and offshore personnel transfer operations on floating production and storage assets operating in the region.