Lord Cullen

Safety in the Offshore-Industry has top priority. The big change came on July 6th 1988, when the North Sea based 'Piper Alpha' platform exploded, killing 167 of the 228 workers on board. Investigation started soon after this disaster in order to find out how this could have happened and also how to prevent this in the future from happening again. This investigation was led by the Scottish lawyer Lord Cullen and it took him almost two years to complete his report and recommendations. It also meant the most radical change in safety regulations the Offshore industry had ever seen. The conclusion that the combined production-living quarters on board directly led to the high number of casualties was probably the most important one. It meant that all living quarters on board had to be divided from productions quarters by means of a bridge or barrier. Also every producing platform got his own stand by boat assigned. In early days just a regular and old Grampian Fishing vessel; today an ultra modern top-safety designed stand-by boat, like this 'VOS Crusader', with all kinds of safety trained crewmembers on board. You can clearly see the Fast Rescue Craft on board, ready to be launched 24 hrs a day.