Kielland platform families welcome new study

Laura Fleming's father, Michel, was murdered in 1980. in the Kiland disaster

BBC A woman with long red hair, wearing a black scarf and coat, looks at the camera. Behind her there is a sea and a rock — Laura Fleming's father, Michel, was murdered in 1980. in the Kiland disaster

The families of those killed in an oil rig disaster 45 years ago have welcomed a new report which backs up their claims they have been denied justice.

The Alexander Kielland platform was being used as an apartment block when it capsized in the Norwegian North Sea during a storm in 1980, killing 123 people, including 22 from the UK.

A study by the University of Stavanger shows concluded that the authorities had failed the survivors and the families of the victimsfor which the Norwegian government previously apologized.

Laura Fleming, whose Father Michael is among those killedsaid the report should help get to the truth of what happened.

Mr Fleming, 37, was one of five men from Cleator Moor, Cumbria, who died when the floating platform capsized about 200 miles (322 km) off the Norwegian coast on March 27, 1980.

His daughter Laura, who is part of the Killand Families Network, said the “shocking truth” of what happened had only recently been revealed and she still had many questions.

Michael Fleming (right) was among the 13 men killed when the Kielland capsized

Unknown/Norwegian Petroleum Museum Old photograph of two men standing side by side looking at the camera. The man on the left is wearing an orange boiler, a white chef's hat and a thick black beard. The one on the right has an orange jumper, yellow helmet and orange guards. — Michael Fleming (right) was among the 13 men killed when the Kielland capsized

The University of Stavanger study concluded that the Norwegian authorities prioritized protecting the reputation of the lucrative oil industry over a full investigation into the causes of the disaster.

They said there were more complicating factors than the simple breaking of the leg of the four-year-old platform, which the French manufacturers were blamed for.

The Kielland platform (pictured after it was removed) was being used as a block of flats when it overturned

Sven Tonessen/Norwegian Petroleum Museum Large metal platform — The Kielland platform (pictured after it was removed) was being used as a block of flats when it overturned

Ms Fleming, who lives in Durham, said that since the crash families had been “pressured” into accepting settlements with “no explanation as to how the rig sank” and “the door to the authority has been firmly shut on any questions”.

“The Norwegian government made a conscious decision not to do what would naturally and reasonably have followed an incident,” Ms Fleming said, adding that she did not want to carry out a full investigation because it could affect an industry that provides “wealth and prosperity “.

Norway's government previously apologized for lapses in its investigations, but in 2021. decided that the new investigation would yield nothing new.

Ms Fleming said she was “grateful” for the “important” new study, adding that it could “help reveal the truth”.

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