On Feb. 15, 1982, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians witnessed the worst offshore drilling accident in Canadian History with the loss of 84 lives.
The Ocean Ranger was a massive oil rig touted as unsinkable and able to drill in areas too dangerous for other rigs. It was built in Japan and first operated in the Bering Sea off Alaska. She was the pride of the offshore oil industry being the biggest rig of her day. She arrived on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland from Ireland in November of 1980.
On Sunday, Feb. 14, a storm developed. With winds of 90 knots and seas being over 30 meters high, the Ocean Ranger reported to the mobile shore base in St. John's that a giant wave crashed over the rig smashing a porthole in the ballast control room. Water rushed in and shorted out circuits and the rig began to list. At 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 15, 1982, the rig signaled it was sending its crew to lifeboats and that was the last time anyone heard from them. The Canadian Coast Guard and supply boats that were in that area had come to rescue the people or at least try. A man on a nearby vessel recalls they got close enough to see the people, about fifteen or twenty feet away. The rescuers tried to get boot hooks out to the men in the sea, trying to hook a bit of clothing, but despite all rescue attempts, the entire 84 crew members of the Ocean Ranger perished that night.
A weather forecaster on another oil rig was quoted as saying they didn't have anything. They didn't have all the survival suits, equipment, or the skills that we have today. Over the next four days, search teams recovered 22 bodies, two lifeboats, and six life rafts. After looking into the disaster, the Royal Commission concluded that the Ocean Ranger had design flaws, particularly in the ballast control room, and the men lacked proper safety training and equipment.
It saddens me to know that even in 1982, many rules were not enforced and the lack of human knowledge contributed to the loss of the crew. The oil companies were held liable because their workers weren't trained for emergency procedures and didn't do any emergency drills. Children lost fathers, wives lost husbands, parents lost children, and many people said goodbye to loved ones. I can't imagine the atmosphere of Newfoundland and Labrador at that time.
One rule that was not enforced back then was that workers had to carry their safety cards, which indicated that they had passed all testing required for the job. Over the past two decades, cold water survival suits were introduced as well as improved methods of lifeboat deployment. Training requirements have increased, new facilities have been established, and weather buoys were established in selected locations throughout the waters in Atlantic Canada to provide critical weather information to forecasters and mariners.
While significant improvements to escape, evacuation, rescue systems, and training requirements are welcomed, many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are often reminded of the cost it came with and the many lives that changed on Feb. 15, 1982.
I've noticed that safety is of utmost importance with many oil companies here in Alberta. I'm aware of the regularly scheduled safety meetings, the required safety tickets, safety equipment, and of the procedures that have to be followed in incidents of injury. The guest speakers at safety meetings who tell of their experiences, weather it be a minor or major incident, have a profound effect on the men and woman who listen. Just like the Ocean Ranger, we learn from the past so as we can prepare for the future. Right On.
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