Transocean rig did not have shutoff switch

The sunken Gulf of Mexico platform that caused up to 210,000 gallons of oil to leak per day reportedly did not have a shutoff switch that could have closed off the well.

Apparently Transocean Ltd., the rig owner and BP PLC, the operator, did not believe it was necessary to have one. BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles told Good Morning America Thursday that the platform relied upon other devices that should have done the job.

"They didn't do that, we don't know why they didn't do that and ultimately we will find out," he said.

Though Suttles did take some responsible “because we’re the lease holder,” he was quick to spread the blame by saying that a different company was operating the platform when the disastrous explosion occurred.

11 workers are presumed to have died in the platform explosion April 20. 17 workers were injured, seven critically.

Source: ABC News