SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Ocean Ranger Disaster

Honourable senators, today marks a very sombre anniversary in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador. Forty-two years ago, in the early hours of February 15, 1982, the Ocean Ranger drill rig capsized and sank off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. Eighty-four people, mostly Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, died in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic.

The string of events leading to the loss of the Ocean Ranger started at 8 a.m. the previous morning, when the crew received a weather report stating that a strong winter storm, with potential waves of up to 37 feet, was forecast to pass over the rig’s location later that day and night.

Even with the weather report, work on the Ocean Ranger continued. The Ocean Ranger continued to drill until later that afternoon, when it disconnected its drill pipe and retracted it for safety to weather the storm.

Later that evening, around 7 p.m., two other rigs in the area were reportedly hit by abnormally large waves. Throughout the evening, the rig experienced some damage due to the storm, but it did not appear to be anything serious, and later that night, there was no indication of significant problems.

However, in the early morning hours of February 15, the Ocean Ranger made contact to report that the rig was listing and called a nearby supply vessel on emergency standby to move in closer to the rig. Just after 1 a.m., the Ocean Ranger was sending out mayday calls. Sadly, the last communication from the Ocean Ranger that morning was sent to inform shore-based authorities that the crew was heading to lifeboats.

Rescue attempts were nearly impossible, as the violent storm continued to wreak havoc on dispatched lifeboats. Despite the sighting of flares and rescue attempts by MV Seaforth Highlander, the heavy seas and gale-force winds ultimately blocked any effort to rescue the crew.

Shortly after, the Ocean Ranger capsized. Although continued rescue efforts were made that night and in the days following, in the end there were no survivors.

A royal commission report explained that the sinking of the semi-submersible rig was due to sea water rushing through a broken glass port light and soaking an electrical panel, shorting out the ballast controls.

Since then, there have been significant improvements in the safety culture in the Newfoundland offshore. I was pleased to be part of these efforts, including being the Senate sponsor of the Offshore Health and Safety Act in 2014, shortly after my arrival to the Senate.

The oil and gas industry is the economic engine of our province, but it has not come without cost. That is why it is important today not only to remember all those lives lost that day in 1982 but also to understand the realities that offshore workers face when exposed to the elements at their place of work. The remembrance of the Ocean Ranger and its crew will continue to contribute to the safety of offshore oil and gas workers everywhere.

Thank you, colleagues.