Today marks the 37th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster, the deadliest offshore oil and gas tragedy in history.
A remembrance service was held at 1pm at the North Sea Memorial Garden in Hazlehead Park, Aberdeen, to honour the 167 men who lost their lives when the Piper Alpha platform exploded and caught fire on 6 July 1988.
Organised by the Pound for Piper Memorial Trust and attended by survivors, relatives, trade union representatives, and industry leaders, the service included a wreath-laying, a roll-call of the deceased, and a minute’s silence.
David Whitehouse, Chief Executive of Offshore Energies UK, paid tribute:
“As we remember the 37th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster, our thoughts are with everyone affected – families, friends, and loved ones. The lessons learned from Piper Alpha brought about crucial changes to how our industry operates and continues to drive our commitment to making offshore work as safe as it can be. The Piper Alpha Memorial Service in the North Sea Memorial Gardens in Hazelhead Park, Aberdeen marks a significant point in an ongoing journey. Our industry upholds its relentless focus on delivering safe offshore operations, but there is no room for complacency. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that the lessons of 37 years ago are never forgotten, and that the memory of those who lost their lives endures with dignity and honour for generations to come. Lest we forget.”
Piper Alpha was operated by Occidental Petroleum and located 120 miles northeast of Aberdeen. On the night of 6 July 1988, a series of gas explosions destroyed the platform, which was producing around 10% of the UK’s oil and gas at the time. Sixty-one men survived; 167 men were killed. Thirty bodies were never recovered.
A public inquiry led by Lord Cullen in 1990 found that inadequate maintenance procedures and communication failures were at the heart of the disaster. His report led to 106 safety recommendations, including the introduction of the “Safety Case” regime, which transformed offshore safety regulation in the UK.
The memorial sculpture in Hazlehead Park remains the focal point for annual commemorations. Survivors and families continue to call for vigilance and accountability in offshore operations to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated.
Main Image: For illustration purposes only. To see an image of the memorial sculpture click here.
So many tributes, so many tears, so much hatred to those that had ears.