SINGAPORE: Sembcorp Marine said that the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was not activated when the rig accident happened as the company was able to handle the situation.
It said only the company's emergency response team was activated.
SembCorp said its criteria for SCDF activation is when there is a major fire.
For this particular rig, the last evacuation drill was carried out in August this year.
SembCorp said it also conducts yearly joint exercises on fire and rescue operations with SCDF.
A joint drill with SCDF was carried out in September this year. Internally, the company conducts about 40 drills on a yearly basis.
When the incident happened at 10.30am on Monday, the evacuation took about 20 minutes and another 25 minutes for head count.
All in, the entire evacuation took less than an hour including the search for men overboard.
Currently, three workers are still being warded in hospital for minor injuries.
Sembcorp Marine said its Health, Safety and Environment Department (HSE) has trained personnel for emergency response such as fire-fighting, rescue operations at heights, rescue from confined space, rescue using ropes, advanced fire-fighting and fire safety management.
They also have trained paramedics and occupational doctors and nurses to render immediate first aid and medical treatment. Some of the existing HSE personnel are also ex-SCDF employees who were paramedics and fire fighters.
Separately in a Facebook post, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong commended the actions of engineer Nur'rahmahdiah Salim, who was on the oil rig at Jurong shipyard when it tilted over.
Mr Lee said the the 22-year-old had stayed behind to make sure her colleagues had evacuated safely before leaving the rig herself.
She was taken to hospital for chest pains and breathing difficulties.
"I am glad that she is back home and OK now...Well done Nur'rahmahdiah," said Mr Lee.
The accident on Monday saw 89 workers injured.
- CNA/de
Sembcorp Marine says able to handle rig accident without activating SCDF
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Sembcorp Marine says able to handle rig accident without activating SCDF
