Sinking of the J/U West Gamma in 1990

[ombugge]

This picture is from a sponsored article in gCaptain news today:

The moment I saw it I recognized it as from the sinking of J/U rig “West Gamma” off Denmark in 1990:

West Gamma Rescue Operation - 25 years on

I used to do rigmoves on this rig when she was Dyvi Gamma, working in Gabon and Angola in 1980-81.
The OIM on the rig then and when she sunk got a medal for the way he handled the situation and organized his crew for the rescue.

After the accident, the captain of the platform, Olav Torvald Benjaminsen from Sotra outside Bergen, and the rescue team received recognition for their professional efforts. The Norwegian Maritime Directorate set up a group which made recommendations on measures to improve the stability of jack-up platforms, reduce risk and increase safety:

1. Better securing of deck loads
2. Better protection against water ingress
3. Research to assess the stability requirements
4. Reassessment of loads on legs and leg attachment during towing
5. Risk analyzes to clarify the need for tugs
6. Simulator program for towing in bad weather
7. Stricter requirements for tugboats
8. Clearer rules for starting jacking down and towing
9. Use of free fall lifeboats

The Shipowners’ Association and Smedvig rederi had dissented against making specifically Norwegian demands. They wanted international rules for safety. The rule changes that came from the Norwegian Maritime Directorate took care of several of the requirements, and the rest were sent over to the UN body IMO , which takes care of the international regulations.

PS> On Norwegian registered offshore rigs the OIM has to be a Master Mariner (with some extra training), even on nonpropelled rig of any type.