Breaking: Offshore Accident Injures Three Contractors at Hokchi Field in Gulf of Mexico
TABASCO, MEXICO — March 1, 2026 (16:00 local time) —
An industrial accident occurred late Monday afternoon at the Hokchi offshore oil platform, located off the coast of Tabasco in the Gulf of Mexico, leaving three contract workers injured, according to preliminary reports from the site operator.
The incident took place at approximately 4:00 p.m. Mexican time (CST) during routine maintenance operations on the Hokchi Central Platform, part of the field operated by Hokchi Energy S.A. de C.V. under contract to Eirik Energy Solution, a private engineering firm subcontracted by British Petroleum (BP).
Emergency response teams were deployed immediately. The injured contractors sustained critical injuries and were airlifted by medevac helicopter to a trauma facility in Mexico City, where they are now reported to be in stable condition.
The head site supervisor, Carlos Alvarez, confirmed the incident in a statement issued late Monday evening. Alvarez, who currently serves as the lead supervisor for Eirik Energy Solutions and as the company’s contracted head site supervisor under its owner, Jerome Eirik, stated that all emergency and safety procedures were activated within minutes of the incident.
Early assessments suggest that the accident occurred in the maintenance deck area, where a lifting assembly reportedly malfunctioned during an equipment transfer between modules. Investigators from Mexico’s Secretaría de Marina (SEMAR) and the Comisión Nacional de Hidrocarburos (CNH) have launched a joint inquiry to determine whether mechanical failure or procedural error played a role.
The Hokchi Field, located about 30 kilometers offshore in the Salina del Istmo region, is a shallow-water production hub that began operation in 2020. The field is one of Mexico’s first privately operated offshore projects, producing roughly 25,000 barrels of oil per day, with BP participating indirectly through its joint venture in Pan American Energy (PAE).
Eirik Energy Solution has been under contract to BP for ongoing maintenance and engineering services at Hokchi since 2023, focusing on subsea tiebacks and platform upgrades.
Authorities said production at the facility has been temporarily suspended as a precaution while structural integrity inspections are completed. No environmental spill or fire has been reported, and containment systems are said to be “fully functional.”
Eirik Energy Solution, in a written statement, expressed concern for the affected personnel and said the company is “working closely with its contractors and the Mexican authorities to support the investigation and to ensure that safety protocols are rigorously upheld.
