On 4^th February 2002 at about 4.15 p.m. a vessel known as "Red Gold" was involved in a collision with an offshore oil platform owned by Sarawak Shell Berhad ('Sarawak Shell'). Sarawak Shell carries out offshore exploration and production activities using wooden platforms with pipelines extending to a considerable distance into the sea bed. These pipelines are used to convey the oil or gas which has been produced offshore. Such oil or gas is then stored in shore tanks which are in turn connected by pipelines to pump the oil directly into vessels.

Once Sarawak Shell has identified an offshore oil well, several platforms, namely a drilling platform, a production platform and a living quarter platform for the crew's accommodation are built. These platforms are all linked by bridges. It is this entire set of platforms which comprise an exploration and production platform complex.In the instant case, the platform complex in question is known as the D35 Offshore Complex. It comprises four platforms which are located at 47 metres water depth and arranged in an 'L' shaped complex. The only platform in this complex involved in the collision with the Red Gold is Platform D-35 PG-A, which is lo

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