NORTH SEA — 1988 · Major Tragedy
The Piper Alpha Disaster
On the night of 6 July 1988, a gas leak on the Piper Alpha oil and gas platform, about 190 kilometres north-east of Aberdeen, was followed by a series of explosions. Gas escaped from a line whose safety valve had been removed for maintenance. Of more than 220 people on board, 167 died and 61 survived; 30 bodies were never recovered. It is regarded as the world's deadliest offshore oil disaster. The public inquiry led by Lord Cullen made 106 recommendations that transformed offshore safety regulation in the United Kingdom.
- Date
- 1988
- Place
- Off Aberdeen, Scotland, North Sea, UK
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 58.4700, 0.2600 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 6 July 1988A gas leak led to explosions and fire on the platform.
- 7 July 1988Much of the platform collapsed; 61 men were rescued.
- November 1990The Cullen Report was published with 106 recommendations.
- 1992The offshore safety regime was overhauled along Cullen's lines.
Sources
- STV News — Piper Alpha: 34 years since world's worst offshore disaster news.stv.tv ↗
- Offshore Engineer — Remembering Piper Alpha: 35th anniversary oedigital.com ↗
- Britannica — Piper Alpha disaster britannica.com ↗
- STV News
- Offshore Engineer
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.