Statoil To Improve Helicopter Safety Following Fatal Crash
Statoil To Improve Helicopter Safety Following Fatal Crash
Statoil has vowed to improve helicopter safety following the release of an investigation into a fatal helicopter crash, which occurred April 29 as the vehicle was carrying 13 workers from the Gullfaks B oil platform to the Bergen airport on the West Coast of Norway.
In May Statoil decided to conduct an in-house investigation in order to identify measures to improve Statoil’s helicopter safety work on the NCS, and to learn from the emergency response to the accident.
The investigation concluded that Statoil’s helicopter safety work on the NCS is good, but stressed that the industry’s efficiency improvement efforts and increased focus on costs must not compromise safety. Statoil also emphasized that a possible introduction in Norway of common European safety requirements could change the ‘risk picture’ associated with helicopter operations.
“We will follow up on the recommendations given by the investigation to enhance Statoil’s helicopter safety and emergency response,” said Statoil Chief Operating Officer Anders Opedal.
“Our clear ambition is to maintain our leading role in further developing and enhancing the existing helicopter safety standard. The report provides a good basis for ensuring an optimal organization and holistic approach to this,” he added.
“The Turøy accident was a tragedy for all those affected, and for the seven companies that lost close colleagues,” said Arne Sigve Nylund, Statoil’s executive vice president for development and production in Norway.
“It is essential that everyone working offshore can be confident in helicopter transportation. We will now, together with the oil and gas industry, government authorities, helicopter operators and union representatives use findings in the report to further improve safety,” he added.
The Turøy helicopter crash was the most serious helicopter incident on the Norwegian continental shelf since 1997. All thirteen people on-board were killed.
