Under Pressure: The Paria Pipeline Crisis

The crisis at Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd. (Paria) occurred when five commercial divers were sucked into an undersea pipeline due to a differential pressure (Delta P) event. While one diver escaped after hours of crawling through the pipeline, the other four remained trapped. Collin Piper, Paria’s terminal operations manager, faced a critical decision regarding whether to authorize a high-risk rescue attempt. Piper had to weigh several critical considerations while making this decision, including the risks to the rescue divers, the potential liability for Paria, and the value of a human life. The case can be used effectively in courses or modules on corporate social responsibility, safety, stakeholders, crisis management, and leadership.