Wreck - Key Biscayne
The Key Biscayne was owned by Key International Drilling Company. On 1st September 1983 is was being moved under tow by two vessels Atlas Van Diemen and the Lady Sonia with a third vessel Argus Guard on standby from the waters off Darwin to Fremantle for stacking in Cockburn Sound.
It was during the second week of towing that problems began, with both tow ropes parting in the early hours on Thursday 25th August, but these where reconnectd without too much hassel. At this stage the KEY BISCAYNE had just rounded Shark Bay, seas were still slight and all was well.
Over the next couple of days the weather worsened and the seas increased with a swell of up to 6m as the rig was being towed just south of the Abrolhos Islands with gale force winds.The rig began to pitch to the stern, water flowed over the main deck casing damage from loose smaller carge items that were being washed around the main deck.Both tow lines again broke loose. On the 29th August the seas calmed down, both lines were reconnected and the trip down to Fremantle resemed. This was short lived as by the evening of the 31st the seas again were bufferting the rig with swells of 6 - 7 m.
The rig was listing serverely to stern with water flooding the main aft tanks. At 6.44 am the tow rope to the rig from the Lady Sonia broke leaving the Atlas Van Diemen trying desperately to hold the rig into the wind. The weather worsened still and as the the rig was beginning to pitch severely the decision made on the 1st September to evacuate crew and send a MAYDAY. The rescue helicpter that was dispatched was unable to land due to the severity of the now rolling rig. So two defence force choppers were sent out and were able to safely winch all but 10 essentail crew off the strickened oil rig.
Later that day attemps were made to reattach the tow line to the Lady Sonia but with bow of the rig lifting clear of the sea and it pitching 10 degrees forward, 25 degrees backward and rolling 15 degrees to each side, the decision was made to completely evacuate the Key Biscayne. All efforts to use line throwing rockets had been done and now the conditions were too dangerous to remain. All lines from the rig were cut , the Atlas Van Diemen and Angus Guard turned to move away from the sinking rig, then the Key Biscayne very quickly capsized in 42m of water landing upside down.
Information courtesy of Off Shore Drilling Accidents
Current Location: 10miles of Ledge Point
The oil rig is sitting on a sandy bottom upside down in 41 m of water , with the highest point being 26m.
Photos from Adrian’sScuba Page
