Working on oil rigs is dangerous, especially when working offshore. Terrible weather, lax safety regulations, and irresponsible supervisors may lead to major disasters. The Alexander L. Kielland disaster in 1980 was one of the biggest offshore disasters in history. The capsize killed 123 people off the coast of Norway.
We explore what happened to the Alexander L. Kielland and what lessons were learned from this offshore accident.
The Alexander L. Kielland
The Alexander L. Kielland was an accommodation platform for 212 offshore workers. This semi-submersible rig was named after a Norwegian writer. The rig was primarily used for drilling purposes and as living quarters for its workers. Up to 386 employees could be housed and accommodated by 1978 after floating living quarters were added. The Alexander L. Kielland was providing offshore accommodation for another production platform — Edda 2/7C. This was located in the Ekofisk oil field in the North Sea.
The rig was owned by the Stavanger Drilling Company but was contracted to Phillips Petroleum in 1980 when the accident occurred. While the Kielland was itself a drilling platform, it was being used as a flotel (floating hotel).
The Accident and Capsize of the Alexander L. Kielland
The accident occurred on March 27, 1980, in the evening. The oil rigs were dealing with extreme rain and high waves, which often reached up to 12 meters high with winds up to 40 knots. The extreme weather meant that much of the drilling operations were paused. Over 200 offshore workers were off duty and living on the Alexander L. Kielland platform, which was separated from the production platform at the time.
At around 6 p.m., workers felt a loud crack and severe trembling on the ship. The Kielland suddenly began to list and tipped over 30 degrees before stabilizing. Five of the platform’s anchor cables snapped, with only one remaining that permitted any level of stability. Around 20 minutes later, however, the last cable gave way. The Kielland completely capsized.
By the time of the capsize, 130 workers had gathered in the cinema and mess hall. Seawater slammed through open doors that were supposed to be shut. However, these were propped open to permit pipes and cables to pass through. Drilling equipment and bits slammed into the men who had sat down to watch a Western movie, adding to the catastrophe.
Also during this time, four lifeboats were launched, but only one could be released from its lowering cables. Another lifeboat capsized, but the workers managed to get it back upright. These brave men then saved 19 others from the water. Another two rafts were eventually thrown from the Edda — the drilling platform alongside the Kielland — which managed to rescue another 13 men. Another seven offshore workers were rescued by various supply boats, while another seven of the men swam over to the Edda to escape the dangerous waters. The Silver Pit, the standby vessel assigned to the rig, took over an hour to reach the Kielland. It was unable to save a single survivor.
Workers Lost and Injured
In what is still considered Norway’s worst offshore disaster to date, a great many workers were killed and injured in the accident. 212 people were onboard the Alexander L. Kielland when she capsized. 123 of those men lost their lives in the disaster. 89 people survived through various efforts, lifeboats, and miraculous circumstances.
One of those men was John Aird, who had just arrived for a two-week stint on the ship as part of his regular schedule. He recalled the massive “bang” and the feeling of the ship capsizing underneath him. As the ship fell over, he found himself under the water in a confusing maze of metal. Somehow, he came up between two metal legs and found air. He managed to spot a lifeboat and swan over to it. He and a few others escaped the water to safety using the lifeboat.
For too many others, this was not the case. Workers saw friends and fellow drillers killed in the accident. Several empty lifeboats and rafts were found, even after rescue vessels heard men yelling for help. Foggy conditions and rough water continued to make rescue efforts difficult.
The Cause of the Accident and Following Investigations
The Norwegian Public Commission investigated the accident to determine what occurred. The commission determined there was a fatigue crack in one of the Kielland’s bracings. This ultimately caused the rest of the rig to collapse as well. The commission also determined that an inadequate weld repair was overlooked. This led to a crack developing over time that instigated the eventual collapse.
A report about the accident also found that the Kielland lacked a clear command structure. Had one existed, the report determined that more people would have had time to evacuate the platform and more lives would have been saved.
Changes After the Alexander L. Kielland Accident
The Norwegian people were shocked by this disaster. The Norwegian Maritime Directorate ordered new redundancies for offshore drilling platforms. This included additional stability and structural requirements. It also included more emergency and life-saving devices for all platforms. Authorities modified the Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU) Code which upgraded standards for stability, watertight doors, and other critical aspects that heightened worker safety.
The issues with the lifeboats also precipitated critical changes. New legislation required that lifeboats be fitted with hooks so that they could be deployed even while under load or stress. On the Kielland, lifeboats were unable to do so, contributing to the disaster.
Offshore Oil Rig Accidents Can Cost Lives
Disasters like what happened on the Alexander L. Kielland often stem from company negligence, poor maintenance, or other wrongful actions. When this happens, offshore workers lose their lives. Surviving family members or injured survivors may be entitled to financial compensation with the help of an experienced offshore accident attorney.
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