RESPONSE

Transocean Had ‘Poor Safety Culture’

Says Coast Guard in Gulf report.

The U.S. Coast Guard said in a report Friday that Gulf rig operator Transocean’s “poor safety culture” contributed to the massive explosion and fire that caused the largest maritime oil spill in history. “The company leaders’ failure to commit to compliance with the International Safety Management Code created a safety culture throughout its fleet that could be described as: ‘running until it breaks,’ ‘only if convenient,’ and ‘going through the motions,'” the report said. Released on the one-year anniversary of the explosion, this is just the first part of the Coast Guard’s investigation into the spill. Although the report does not touch on any of the failures that led to the blowout or the spill response, it could provide fodder for the lawsuit BP filed against Transocean on Wednesday.