Petroleos Mexicanos employees who died while working on a rig in the Gulf of Mexico lacked adequate safety training, the company's chief executive officer has conceded.

Jesus Reyes Heroles' comments came during a press conference announcing the company's official verdict on the accident, which resulted in the death of 22 production platform workers last year.

According to Bloomberg, the company has spent around two billion pesos (£98 million) on oil training programmes and safety equipment such as life rafts and escape vessels.

The company is also implementing a new digital system which will monitor which of its workers are qualified to work at sea.

Meanwhile, an independent report has called for immediate training and development programmes to be launched to ensure that all workers are familiar with evacuation procedures.

"All of the personnel in Bay of Campeche must be trained immediately to survive at sea," advised Mario Molina, award-winning chemist and author of the report.

According to Newsday.com, the accident occurred when high winds blew an oil tanker off-course, causing it to crash into the rig.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development.