| Description | Recording date: 2002.12.18, 2003.02.06, 2003.04.02, 2003.04.23
Tape 1 Side A: JOHN CAMPBELL born 14 June 1935 Caithness. Youngest of four children. Details re siblings. Paternal family: father a farmer. His family crofterfishermen, displaced in Clearances. Origin of Campbells in Caithness. Mother nee Manson. Comments on impact of Clearances. People who got into herring fishing did well, eg Wick down to Yarmouth. Father a farmer, fought with Seaforth Highlanders in first war, then worked croft. Details. Mentions first tractor. Paternal grandfather a farmer-fisherman. Details re crofter-fishermen. Wife worked croft when husband at sea. Fishermen shared boats. Tough life. Mentions husbands being lost at sea. Maternal family: grandfather a farm grieve. Details re family names. Uncle in Black Watch, died in first war aged 18. Many from Caithness died in that war, got telegram announcing news. Describes maternal grandfather, farmer who played pipes. Details re extended family. Recalls grandfather's stories re Wick-Thurso stagecoach, herding sheep in summer, using hurds, taking peat to school, bursaries, pupil teachers. Details re grandfather's piping. Details re building of stucks, stacks of hay. Grandfather critical of father's stacks. Describes childhood home. No inside toilet. Describes water supply, byre, floor. Mentions never-used best room. Details re hearth, peat/coal open fire, use of sway for kettle etc. Had no electricity. War brought primus stove, Tilly lamp. Before, used oil lamps. House was distant from nearest neighbour. Walked two miles to school. Fireplace in every bedroom. Wore more clothes. Slept in chaff beds. Details. Recalls getting 'tartan' legs from fire. Details re chairs. Describes evening routines, meal. Never short of potatoes. Listened to radio - a struggle. Recalls programmes, card games, storytelling. Had books at school.
Tape 1 Side B: Recalls local characters in neighbourhood, e.g. shepherd who won football pools, tried to hide winnings, had to leave. Attitude in Caithness to being different, and to people who forget their roots, change accent etc. Own experience with language difficulties in London. Still speaks with Caithness accent. Details. Quotes poem. Recalls able neighbour with deformed leg. Describes Caithness. Good farmland. Mentions arrival of atomic power station Douneray. Now, more working on decommissioning, which will take 40 years, than in building stage. Details. Good for employment. Describes father, his hard work. Recalls staying away from school to help him. Had German prisoners of war to help in harvest etc. Mentions former Uboat man. None escaped to Germany. Recalls their uniforms, red patches, talking to them but not about war. Further details re father, his abilities, death from strokes. Recalls his reaction to tractor. Was close to mother. Didn't want to be farmer. Parents' aspirations for children. Mentions discipline in home. Details re mother, her life, illness with appendicitis, abilities. Recalls her weekly letters when at sea. Reference to John O'Groat Journal. Had many visitors to house, went visiting. Details. Recalls tinkers of McPhee, Stewart clans. Details re their visits, Black Henry's requests for tea, black twist tobacco, target spitting etc. Parents a close couple. Mother dealt with money. Father had no weekly wage. Mother went shopping in Wick every three months. Details re homemade clothes. Church important. Details re three religions, customs. Explains church decline after first war. Recalls prayers at school, learning psalms, catechism etc. Quotes. Recalls bible exams, order of books. Current attitude to religion.
Tape 2 Side A: (Other family members present). Grandfather a dry-stone dyker. Explains. Caithness stones suitable for dykes. Father a water diviner. Explains water situation in Caithness, summer conditions. Describes water divining process. Father in demand around neighbourhood. Recalls childhood daily routines, walking to school with other children. Recalls cold days. Describes schoolroom. One teacher for all age levels. Feelings about her. Recalls corporal punishment. Started school the day World War II broke out. Recalls delight because of schools being closed. All terrified of poison gas. Recalls gas masks, air raids. Heard Churchill's speeches. Watched Spitfires practising dogfights from Wick aerodrome. Recalls seeing soldiers, their foot inspections, mother sending them tea, bread. Farmers better off during war. Vegetables planted in dug-up playgrounds etc. Reference to 'dig for victory'. Landgirls worked on farms. Unpopular teacher had to leave. Next teacher taught French, trigonometry. Mentions forthcoming school reunion. Recalls own skills at school. Not good at sport. Interested in current affairs. Describes evening routines at home. Horsedrawn van came weekly to collect eggs, helped towards costs of other food. Details re house lighting. Always wanted to go to sea. Ambition born when seeing boats in Wick. Recalls breaking leg. Developed interest in ordnance survey, learning about triangulation etc. Registered for Royal Navy for National Service 1952, but joined Merchant Navy. Describes birthday routines in childhood. No presents. Had Christmas treat at school with music, performances etc. Details re dances etc, Christmas presents. Christmas was a normal working day. Describes Hogmanay, drinking drams of whisky. Family couldn't afford alcohol normally, had ginger wine.
Tape 2 Side B: 1953 joined Merchant Navy. Details re interview with Youth Employment Officer. 500 shipping companies. Wrote twenty applications a night. Quotes rejections, advice. Found work with Andrew Weir & Co through Wick Harbourmaster. Details. Got bursary through local education authority for pre-sea training at Leith Nautical College, Training Ship Dolphin. Explains importance of handling self well, hierarchy on training ship. Recalls ferocious commandant. Describes Dolphin, scrubbing deck with holystone, rigorous regime, initiation ceremony. Able to convince bullies to be spared. Explains army-dodgers' use of Merchant Navy to avoid National Service. Details of subjects, skills learned at Nautical College including seamanship, navigation, rowing, sailing, lifeboat drill, signalling. Mentions own particular ways of tying knots. Learned to handle bullies.
Recalls climbing masts without safety lines, strict discipline governing social life. Reference to end of rationing. Recalls large numbers of servicemen travelling everywhere. Details of uniform, clothes, equipment, trunk bought before joining ship.
Mentions indentures, other papers including identity card, inoculation certificates. Joined MV Southbank 1953. Details re 24-hour train trip to London. No fears of being mugged etc. Recalls arrival at King's Cross, taxi trip to Royal Albert Docks. Describes docks. Details re first arrival at ship, going aboard, first meeting with captain. Describes lunch. Details re crew. London decorated for coronation, heads of state flying in, happy time there. Had to sail from London on Coronation Day. Details. Recalls news of conquest of Mt Everest. Reference to Edmund Hillary, Sherpa Tensing who, though not British, treated as though they were. Reference to John Hunt. Ships in London all dressed with flags. Got extra day's pay.
Tape 3 Side A: First ship (cont'd). Went to Trinidad for pitch. Recalls cleaning tanks with caustic soda, steam. Details. No safety breathing apparatus, got burns from caustic soda, no safety belts. Learned lesson re attaching tools when aloft. Describes incident when spanner dropped. Recalls crew smuggling cigarettes. Describes searches by Customs rummage squads. Was Apprentice Navigating Officer under First Mate, a Captain Bligh figure. Describes him. He made life misery. Recalls doing awnings, same work as crew. Kept apart from crew. Explains. Details re cleaning process. Did no formal navigation as apprentice on ship but did correspondence courses. Details re test papers, exams. Imitates First Mate shouting. Mentions Seacunnis, quartermasters. Recalls ship's bells, cleaning and polishing cabins. Describes cleaning routines, dreaded Captain's inspection. Details re hard soap, washing dungarees. Shortage of fresh water, rations for Indians. Recalls being in charge of water dispensation. Captain had wife on board. Details re her - she took pity on apprentices. Details re dining saloon, table allocations, menus, attitudes to food. Relationship with captain. Story re loading copra in hold, copra bugs which bite, calculations re quantities that would fit in hold, problem with fitting load in. Details re voyage. Copra put down ventilators, had to be recovered. Got in captain's good books. Recalls cleaning ship before return to UK, painting job that went wrong.
Tape 3 Side B: Apprentices were scum of the earth. Recalls signing off ship. Story of First Mate's purloined bag of sugar, own final confrontation with him. Mentions his reputation. Captain, Chief Engineer could take wives to sea. Further details re First Mate. Details re 'post office' routine, crew mutiny when not given day off. Details re ship's supplies. Mentions crew buying goods in Petticoat Lane. Company Superintendents were gods. Recalls their visits, inspections, blame for faults passed down line to apprentices. Spent year on Southbank. Details re voyage, countries visited. Details re seagoing regulations for apprentices, promotion possibilities. Reference to other Bank Line ships. Feelings about being at sea. Recalls early seasickness. Problem with eyesight using sextant, eye test in Auckland. Passed eyesight test for Mate's ticket. Failed eyesight test for Master's ticket. Mentions time at Navigation College, Robert Gordon's, College, Aberdeen. Took nerve tonic, Eastern Syrup. Details re next eye test, ruses, pass, helpful examiner. Recalls social life when at sea as apprentice, in foreign ports. Mentions other shipping companies, Missions to Seamen. Worked as 'seagull' (non-union waterside workers) in New
Zealand. Recalls dances, services clubs. Went ashore and socialised with engineers. Background to war between engineers, deck officers. Colleagues had been in war. Merchant Navy hated Royal Navy. Explains. If ship sunk, pay stopped. Mentions attitude to dipping ensign to Royal Navy ships. Married 1960. Details re meeting wife. Reference to Navigation School, Robert Gordon's College. Details re examinations in Leith. Describes terrifying orals, questions re sailing ships. Became Navigating Officer 1957. Details re wife, nee McIntosh, children, meeting with her at Sailors' Home dance, courtship.
Tape 4 Side A: Meeting with wife (cont'd). Recalls long correspondence with her. Married 1960. (Wife comments on having John at sea). Second Mate at time of marriage. Recalls first hearing of North Sea industry, speculation. Reason for joining Texaco Overseas Tankers as Second Officer. Recalls going away soon after marriage, wife's brief visit. Comments on benefits of working with Andrew Weir. Knew a little about tankers when joined Texaco. Explains potential problems with temperature control when carrying, discharging coconut oil. Mentions lack of pollution controls. Details re Caltex, Chevron Texaco. Recalls flying by Lockheed Electra to Cairo 1960 to join tanker. Reference to Suez crisis, attitude to British. Details re Cairo hotel experience, coach ride to Port Said. Recalls handover from mad Second Mate. Tanker, Caltex Adelaide, a T2, built in America during war to make one voyage. British design, General Electric engine. Details re compass, Iron Mike automatic steering device, crew, accommodation, tank arrangement. Compares with later VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier). Describes duties as Second Mate. Was also Safety Officer. Details re heat, cooling methods, hazard of dangerous gas. Mentions Tanker Safety Course, Southampton. Details re voyage to Port Sudan, Iraq. Was good at signals. Details re Morse code interchange, confusions re arrival time of pilot. Feelings re being on tanker - it was a floating, rusting wreck. Changed to Texaco Dublin, went to Japan, dry-docked two months, had enforced holiday. Did Master's ticket 1963 in UK. Mentions birth of children. Reference to Caltex Delhi. Away for a year at time, returned for six weeks. Feelings about being away when children born. Recalls getting news of birth.
Tape 4 Side B: Became Chief Officer 1971. Tankers got bigger, accommodation moved aft. Reference to Texaco name change. Details re first Texaco VLCC built on Tyne. Sailed as Chief Officer. Horrendous ship, prototype. Describes situation in rough weather, tunnel access to different parts of ship. Ship had no bilge keel but flume tanks designed to lessen rolling - didn't work. Explains other ideas that didn't work. Technology not good. Recalls use of walkie-talkies, distribution of gauges that broke etc. No special training for safety. Problems with cleaning tanks, use of Butterworth water-spraying machine. Details re simulated lightning storm. Recalls fatal explosions destroying earlier ships. Appointed Master 1971, in charge of Texaco Safety Advisory Team auditing Texaco ships worldwide - unpopular with ships' masters. Youngest master of VLCC. Mentions first command - of Texaco Saigon 1971-2. Nearly blown up by Viet Cong in Mekong River. Details. Explains use of acoustic grenades. Mentions limpet mines. Describes explosion which lifted ship. Reaction of Indian crew member. Given flak jackets by Americans. Details re heavy American helmets. Explains responsibilities of Chief Officer. Big step going up to Captain. Had food poisoning when first appointed. Responsibilities as Captain. Feelings about handling ship. First trip steering went on blink. Details. Explains changes in discipline over the years, effect of unions. Things became more democratic. Situation re alcohol on board. Hard being in charge of ship first time. Explains. Recalls indoctrination in London, warning about having worst Chief Engineer in fleet. Details re him, his style, rackets. Recalls experience with wifebeating engineer. Had Sparks (Radio Officer) who went mad. Details. Mentions routines when leaving port, details re radio.
Tape 5 Side A: Further details re radio officer, his subsequent death. Own first trip as captain was memorable. Sent as guinea pig to Taiwan dry dock for three months. Attempt to extend ship's life. Details re difficulties. Recalls close shave, electric shock on scaffolding. Comments on being in command, need to keep distance, appear confident in crises. Problem controlling drinking at sea. Difficulties with bars on ships, disputes. Explains former beer ration system. Fruit, vegetables, fresh food used to run out. Details re allocation of foods per-man per-day, menu items. Explains disputes between engineers, deck departments. Problems with money, wages sent home to wives, spending in ports etc. Recalls dealing with a fight in which man had displaced eye. Every ship an adventure. Recalls time on Texaco Great Britain - badly built ship, worst in fleet, largest ship built on Tyne, 270,000 tons. Details. Given ship as 'own' ship. Story of problem with anchoring when speed limiting device failed, chains broke etc. Details re anchoring procedures. Situation was consequence of use of inadequate chain. Own advice to test system ignored. Aware of North Sea industry. Explains interest in working there. Took part in salvage of two tankers in Vietnam, Sicily. Mentions own ship that went down with dry dock. Background to appointment as Environmental, Health, Safety & Marine Superintendent, Texaco North Sea 1979. Mentions approach to Shell to be OIM (Offshore Installation Manager), reaction of Texaco. Details re new job, preparation of safety procedures manual. Explains salary. Given company car, based in Aberdeen, lived in current house. Details re VLCCs, their manoeuvrability, problem stopping them. Reference to Williamson turn.
Tape 5 Side B: Details re the Williamson Turn. Came ashore 1979 as Environment, Health, Safety & Marine Superintendent, Texaco North Sea Ltd. Attitude then to safety, environment. Production was everything. Recalls first visit to UKOOA (UK Offshore Operators' Association) Safety Committee at Shellmex House. Main concern then to standardise work permit system, alarms but argument between companies. Safety was reactive not proactive. Details re lifeboats. Everything done by prescription. Tartan platform parts built in various places. Own role, to write manual. No budget. Mentions charlatans in field. Got help from Occidental re procedures for various emergencies, cobbled together Texaco manual. Also produced small manuals. Details. Mentions major accidents, eg Alexander Keilland. No-one imagined a Piper type accident. Scaffolder killed on Tartan before production began. Explains environmental work, eg dealing with oil spills, permissible amounts. Lot of oil spilled. Details. Oil-based mud was often pumped into the sea. Food waste and other rubbish put in sea. Reaction of fish to food, platform structure. Recalls problems with fishermen coming within safety zone, prosecutions, their arguments. They wanted compensation for catching debris in their nets. Was member of Fisheries Offshore Oil Consultative Group. Details re compensation paid to fishermen - their deliberate actions. Water warmed by risers below platform. Birds a menace around platforms. Explains corrosive, slippery nature of guano. Migrating birds caught in light of flare, bright lights. Lots of seals - after fish. Flaring cut back before global warming awareness. Details. Gas a menace. Explains. Current regulations. Problem with halon fire extinguisher, now almost gone. Compares halon with CO2 as fire extinguisher. Dangers of CO2. Reason for using it, outlawing halon.
Tape 6 Side A: Texaco were lean and mean. Explains their wide use of contractors. Describes hierarchy. Describes General Manager, his character, management style. Texaco went overboard on TQM (Total Quality Management), then discarded it. Recalls Americans in drilling department who had never heard of Aberdeen, sent over new expensive furniture house-goods etc. Attitude of Customs, prosecution threats. They lived in beautiful houses. Reaction of Aberdeen people. Describes social events, barbecues etc. Skilled people went off to North Sea for big wages. Ex-coal, shipbuilding industry people employed by oil industry. Reference to situation in Iran. Drillers' accident rate a problem. Lack of realisation by council of size of industry. More money in Aberdeen, rise in house values. Example of own house. Texaco only had one wholly-owned platform, Tartan, and parts of other ownerships. Comments on Occidental, their attitude to safety, standards. Recalls their reaction to criticism. Gives example re deluge system. Piper partly owned by Thompson, Texaco. Had annual tripartite audit. Occidental tried to prevent inspections. Comments on Armand Hammer. Details re work with COSH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health). Explains regulations re chemicals sent offshore, complexities of documentation etc before computers. Explains admiration of Margaret Thatcher. Details re port situation in Aberdeen, restrictions imposed by dockers' union. Example of their control of docks. Effect of Thatcher government on docks. Reason for oil industry coming to Aberdeen was militant Dundee dockers. Current change in Dundee, Aberdeen port. Feelings about unions. Recalls 1979 offshore strike. Went to union meeting as mole, thrown out. Influence of Clydeside militants. Reference to Ninian, Chevron platforms. Reasons for unions not getting influence offshore.
Tape 6 Side B: Americans hated, feared unions. Explains union agreement with UKOOA for rep to go offshore to speak to men. Most catering staff were in unions, others were not. Explains. Unions were divided. Reference to OILC (Offshore Industry Liaison Committee). Oil companies played one union off against the other. Reference to Norway. Recalls dealings with NUS (National Union of Seamen), their actions. Recalls terrible waste in industry of materials and time, thefts. Details. Beds were a premium, four to a room. Describes atmosphere on platform. Attitude of platform workers to people from the beach. Recalls their attitude to leaving platform at end of shift. Comments on their food. Problem with drugs. Compares offshore situation with that on ships. Explains NRB (Not Required Back). Mentions leisure facilities on platforms, meals. Mentions own ability to work long hours. Feelings about coming home from sea. Mentions company car. Details re working hours. Enjoyed job, had good health etc. Never feared anybody, able to write good English. Americans cannot write a letter, especially drillers. Details. They had to have blowout certificate of competency. Compares with British ones. Details re 'reciprocity'. Early OIMs didn't have certificates, often former barge engineers from Mississippi tradition. American reaction to Master Mariners becoming OIMs.
Tape 7 Side A: Americans not suitable as OIMs. Explains. Mostly ex-drillers. Contrasts drilling rigs, production platforms. Friction between drilling, production people. Drillers interested in making hole. Many accidents. Explains problems with equipment from US land rigs. Background of production people. Reference to Iranian situation, status of Britons. Explains their tax situation. Attitude of Americans to unions, NRB. Comments on union activity offshore, strikes. Reference to Norway. Many oil workers came from coalmines, shipyards, had union background. Difficulty getting union officials offshore. Reference to OILC, HSE (Health & Safety Executive). Further details re 1979 strike. Strikes during building of Tartan. Recalls going as 'mole' to Aberdeen Music Hall meeting. Low level of media coverage of strike, little sympathy. Platforms shut down, mainly Brent where there were agitators. Shell attracted bad publicity. Early 1980s: describes typical day's work including morning meeting, conference calls with OIMs, progress reports, various problems e.g. with H2S, pollution, personnel transport. Money no object, e.g. helicopter 'bombing run' carrying Sunday papers. Offshore workers pampered with food. Importance of ice, ice cream to Americans. Compares American, British attitude to accommodation standards. Details re of weight carried by platforms, daily deck-load calculations, implications for stability. Continues daily routine: procedures after accidents.
Explains medivacs, kitevacs, OIR9, OIR12 forms sent to Department of Energy (DoE). Had to deal with situations involving fishermen, keep them sweet. Americans frightened of fishermen who made money out of oil industry. Explains abandonment procedure in Gulf of Mexico, fishermen's demands in North Sea. Own view of disposal of platforms. Reference to Phillips' Maureen decommissioning. Benefits of artificial reefs. Routine continued: overseeing equipment, survival training etc.
Tape 7 Side B: Dealt with PR, offshore visits. Details. Routine continued: details re hours worked; UKOOA, Safety, Marine, Fishing, Environment, Oil-spill, Diving, Aircraft committees. Mentions helideck accident, helicopter landing officers. Details re certificates of competency, changes to OIM courses. Recalls arguments re form of OIM courses. Details re Texaco's Tartan platform, crew structure, contractors, eg
Expro people, catering staff, drillers. Conflict between drilling, production people. Attitude of drillers to their rights, transport etc. Accommodation arrangements.
Mentions smoking in cabins. Recalls different OIMs, relationships between them. Mentions one nicknamed Sikorsky. Shifts liked to stay together. Mentions day/night shift changes. Describes emergency drills on Tartan, equipment. Had fires on Tartan. Always concern re Tartan's weak leg, putting extra weight on platform. Details. Explains structural weakness, unexpected equipment required, eg to deal with H2S. Recalls colleagues in Texaco, e.g. temperamental District Manager. Recalls Chinese visitors. Explains Texaco's way of dealing with problems. Mentions merger with Getty when Texaco went bankrupt, into Chapter 11. Details re law suit, outcome. Recalls Getty people. Unable to get holidays in first three years. Mentions time with family. Joined Lions Club, British Heart Foundation. Went to night school, took certificates in safety, health; did offshore exams. Explains work auditing waste management. Problems with fishermen picking up debris. Details. Oil drums, chemicals, mud, drilling cuttings used to be put in sea. Recalls water-producing machine that failed. Use of dispersals in case of leaks. Good PR but didn't work. Oil drifted towards Norway, not UK. Mentions booms, biodegrading of oil in sea. Recalls oil-spill dispersants kept in Shetland, Aberdeen etc. Recalls annual exercises - great PR exercise.
Tape 8 Side A: Mentions colleagues from oil industry involved in Aberdeen schools oral history project. Further details re waste disposal. North Sea oil light, biodegrades. Compares with heavy fuel (crude) oil, e.g. which spilt by Braer in Shetland 1993. Spilt oil should be guided to sacrificial beach etc. Effect of tide, wind, viscosity of oil. North Sea mapped out, possible to forecast direction of oil spills with computers, guide them with booms. Recalls leak in Tartan line, large quantity biodegraded on way to Norway. Recalls dumping oil, sludge when working on tankers, sometimes during darkness. Comments on actual damage of oil - most biodegrades. Lot of oil seeps from rock. Recalls Torrey Canyon disaster. Cleaning detergents can be worse than oil. Recalls Exxon Valdez disaster, compensation. Reference to Braer. Further details re waste, eg destruction of computers through rough weather, dumping of shipment of wrong type of mud. Recalls miners strike, Maggie Thatcher's need to win. On her side. End of coal-fired power. Start of women offshore. Explains problems involved. Women engineers, geologists etc gradually accepted. Situation in Texaco. Prepared environmental, safety cases for licensing rounds. Explains process, presentation in London. Reference to DoE. Recalls 9th round. BNOC (British National Oil Corporation) a waste of money. Explains. Mentions various committees in lavish BNOC boardroom. Compares with American companies. Reference to Enterprise Oil. Recalls own first UKOOA Safety Committee meeting, other companies present, reports of accidents. Mentions accidents involving hoses, scaffolders. Little attention paid to work permits. Details. No common alarm system - attitude of Shell, BP. Mentions DoE. Details re Statutory Instruments, Health & Safety at Work Act, safety regulations.
Tape 8 Side B: Recalls UKOOA Fisheries Committee. Explains role, attitude of fishermen, their ability to delay operations, make demands for compensation. Explains role, membership of Fisheries Offshore Oil Consultative Group (FOOG). Fishing industry's wanted North Sea to be returned to pristine condition. Details re their attitude to oil industry, processing of claims. Compensation decided by oil companies. Fishermen did well out of claims. Mentions formation of Scottish Fishermen's Federation. Explains love-hate relationship between fishermen, oil industry. Details re mooring, anchoring arrangements for oil rigs, occasional loss of marker buoys. Development by Jimmy Milne, Balmoral, of plastic collisionfavourable buoy. Steel buoys outlawed. Details re Milne. Recalls introduction of subsea wells, use of buoys. Comments on Wood Group, their background, involvement with Rolls Royce gas turbines. Details re Craig Group, background to ex-trawler standby vessel business. Reference to Cod War. Explains negative reaction of Aberdonians to oil industry, lack of foresight. Comments on mediocre councillors, Aberdonian character, e.g. at football matches. Comments on Hall Russell shipbuilders' lost opportunity. Reference to trade unions, demarcation issues, benefit of multi-skilling offshore. Reason for Ian Wood, Jimmy Milne surviving. Reference to Maggie Thatcher. Recalls last ship built by Hall Russell. Details re Texaco in late 1980s, Tartan field, blocks in Moray Firth Captain Field - heavy oil. Details re Tartan operation. Texaco had half-hearted approach to North Sea. Tartan wrongly oriented - nobody told. Consequences of this. Problem with H2S, technicalities of hazards involved. Effect of 'don't-tell-me-bad-news' attitude. New York not told of situation. Final outcome. Production never stopped when additional equipment put on platform - would never be allowed today. Mentions near-miss accidents, almost-Piper Alphas.
Tape 9 Side A: Recalls Shell near-miss when gas got inside, a blast; loss of people in Brent platform leg when procedures not followed. Comments on reaction there would have been to situation now. Big explosion on Piper platform some time before disaster. Impact of this on rescue procedures - false sense of security. Lube oil fire on Tartan. Details. Explains deluge system for fires, detection devices. Gas more dangerous. Explains possibility of deluge release by gas, consequent spark causing explosion. Different attitudes to deluge on different platforms. Problems with deluge. Deluges tested every two years. Tartan had cunifer pipe. Explains. Piper Alpha had worn galvanised iron pipe. Problems with this when deluge operated. Recalls Chinook helicopter disaster. Explains offshore workers' dislike of survival suits. Details re suits, lifejackets. Changes after Chinook disaster. Chinooks unpopular. Reason for their use. Mentions survival training. Explains involvement with E&P (Exploration & Production) Forum, role of organisation dealing with, e.g., reciprocity between countries. Recalls non-work activities, holidays abroad. Organised pipe band trip to France. Details. Explains daily schedule. Always on call. Piper Alpha disaster 1988: recalls hearing news when at theatre seeing Scotland the What. Details re phone call to Tartan platform re pumping gas, oil (via Claymore) to Piper. Problem with communication to Tartan. Recalls giving permission for release of Texaco drilling rig standby boat. Texaco's dismissive reaction - was only one in office on night of disaster. Recalls next morning meeting OIM of Tartan. Nobody in Aberdeen believed how bad it was. Describes press conference at Occidental office, questions asked by media. Details re Tartan OIM who wouldn't shut down supply to Piper.
Tape 9 Side B: Piper Alpha disaster (cont'd). Further details re night of disaster, own actions in office, conversation with radio man on Tartan. Reason for Tartan continuing production. Reason for being asked by drilling rig re release of standby vessel. Distance from Tartan to Piper. Details re communications with Tartan through Stonehaven Radio. Tried unsuccessfully to get Texaco people into office. Everybody tried to play down event. Describes Piper. Mentions call from Occidental. Comments on their emergency control room situation. Own attitude to shutting down production. Recalls sitting at desk through night, hearing news. Last call to Tartan around midnight. Comments on colleagues not coming to office. Recalls own bleeper going off, time. Recalls television coverage of disaster, VIPs coming from London etc. Reference to Prince Charles, Diana, Maggie Thatcher, Armand Hammer. Tartan shut down for at least nine months, did maintenance, overhaul. Recalls seeing Tartan OIM day after disaster, his account of Piper. Next saw him when interviewed by DoE. Comments on DoE. OIM never recovered from the event. Reason for refusal of permission for him to stop production. Production was everything. Comments on culture of Texaco. Belief that Piper-type disaster could never happen. Likely attitude of OIM. Realisation on Tartan of situation when gas line pressure dropped. Comments on conduct of Piper OIM. There were procedures which never tested. Jealousy between OIMs, infighting. Not interviewed by Cullen Enquiry. Attended every day.
Tape 10 Side A: Piper Alpha disaster (cont'd). Comments on Cullen Enquiry, participants. Texaco represented as shareholder in platform. Describes Enquiry scene, participants, procedures. Own job to keep precis record, send it round company. Describes atmosphere, international media coverage. Recalls father of casualty who came every day, had placards condemning Oxy. Story of injured survivor at the Enquiry in a trilby hat. Recalls ferocious union QC, Hugh Campbell. Comments on campaign of survivor's father. Details re compensation. Texaco didn't want blame attached to them. Oxy took all the flack. Own feelings re compensation. Role of UKOOA at Enquiry. Explains their concerns. Mentions Flixborough disaster, consequences leading to safety cases. Explains tactics of oil companies, diverting attention from their shortcomings. Work permit system was abused offshore. Details. Explains failure of perfunctory handovers. Different forms of work permits in different companies. Recalls unsuccessful UKOOA attempt to introduce standardisation, attitude of BP, Shell. DoE was weak. Details. Reference to IUOOC (Inter-union Offshore Operators' Committee). Further details re Enquiry. Mentions introduction of special pipeline safety valves. Further details re own role at Enquiry. Texaco pre-empted legislation by arranging upgrades where necessary. Recalls hard time given, at Enquiry, to head of DoE, situation there. Recalls farcical DoE inspections. Story of one inspector, standby boat drill (before Piper disaster) that turned into a real-life situation involving several standby boats, rescue attempts. Mentions prescriptive safety arrangements, 1019 Statutory Instrument.
Tape 10 Side B: Example of a pre-Piper disaster rescue (cont'd). Details re lifeboat releases. Series of disasters leading to eventual recovery of body, later Court of Enquiry. Comments on situation. Details re standby vessels, ex trawlers, their qualities, drawbacks for job. Reference to Sea Gem disaster. Week before Piper disaster, went to conference re standby vessels. Explains UKOOA proposal to reduce number of standby vessels. Effect of Piper aftermath rulings on own job, increase in staff. HSE inspections more rigorous. Details. Contrasts with DoE inspections. Recalls another example of DoE inspections. Details re stabbing boards on drilling rig. Describes another inspection. Reference to Benn Line rig, Ocean Victory. Mentions Safety Inspector's enthusiasm for his model railway, benefiting from skills of offshore workers. Story of collapsible bath. Story re inspector's fetish for numbers of lavatories per person. Recalls fatal Brent Spar helicopter accident, Ocean Odyssey accident. Reference to Ocean Drilling. Recalls Cormorant Alpha helicopter accident. Friend, OIM, never recovered from that. Involved with Braer Shetland oil spill. Mentions SORTI (Spilt Oil Response Team International), Texaco's worldwide oilspill response team. Reference to kit. Appointed by UKOOA to monitor Donaldson Enquiry in London, best job ever. Stayed on headquarters ship Wellington, on Thames. Reference to Institute of Civil Engineers. Did same work as in Cullen Enquiry. Details re inadequacies of tanker equipment. Mentions size of ropes on tankers, need for power systems to handle them. Reference to ship identification, AIDS (Automatic Identification System), fixed routes for tankers. Details re cause of Braer accident.
Tape 11 Side A: After Donaldson Enquiry, Piper Alpha, company decided to expand safety department,. Had to present safety cases to HSE. Details. Had c12 people working on safety cases for Tartan. Details. Explains own role. Had to compile statistics. Changes to use and disposal of mud, waste. Mentions War on Waste (WOW). Changes to standby vessels organisation, institution of Helicopter Landing Officers etc. Details re safety cases. Money wasted on them. Explains. Not enough inspectors to read them all. Mentions due diligence, responsibilities. Reference to gas release, evacuation on Shell Dunlin platform reported this morning (of interview). Details re safety cases, provisions for evacuation on platform etc. OIMs had to be trained specifically. Compares with previous regime. Details re training; negative reaction to idea of training of some. Recalls situation on Piper, need for training, leadership. Recalls own experience during collapse of dry dock. Details re OIM training programme, tests. Describes noise of alarms etc in emergency, stresses. Explains particular difficulties examining OIMs. Many early OIMs not competent, didn't sit tests. Preoccupation of oil companies with production. Their reaction to safety representatives. Impact of OILC (Offshore Industry Liaison Committee). Texaco found itself to be lacking post-Piper. Explains. Describes dangerous incidents, one involving a escaping 'pig', others involving cranes that fell down. No-one hurt, nothing reported. Comments on recent US Challenger space shuttle disaster. Things now safer. Big platforms no longer being built. Wonder that more people not killed. Details re an accident involving a deaf riveter. Nowadays he would never have got offshore.
Tape 11 Side B: Companies spent what they had to in order to upgrade, e.g. on standby vessels, fire fighting, protection equipment. Boom time for consultants. Compares with pre-Piper times. People read parts of safety cases that applied to them. Mentions decision to retire. Explains reorganisation of Texaco, 'flattening the org', new management systems, TQM. Own reaction. Changes driven by Chief Executive in America. Cost of system. Recalls conference of OIMs, managers in Inverness, induction in TQM. Had quality meetings monthly, competition to design slogan etc. Recalls slogan, 'Do things right first time'. Describes meetings. System never worked. Own job to eliminate paper waste in office. Details. Reference to computers. Recalls Dusty Bin Day when unnecessary files thrown out, e.g. drawings, manuals etc sent to warehouse in Aberdeen. Got rid of a lot of papers. TQM disappeared. Continuing impact of Piper, eg fear of consequences of another such accident. Reference to claims, insurance. Government on oil companies' back. Explains. Explains retirement at 58, pension situation. Immediately got part-time job. Mentions OPITO (Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation). First job inspecting fire training establishment. Details. Set up Rosewell Consultants. Recalls jobs done. Did assessments on ships. Became quality assessor. Reference to ISO9000. Had to sit exam. Details. Explains inspections for traceability. Recalls farewells from Texaco in Aberdeen, London, 'This is Your Life' ceremony. Feelings re leaving Texaco. Did fishing claims for a while after retirement. Details re fisheries claim fund. Explains recent audit re vessel Scandi Neptune. Details re new approach to audits. Details re Scandi Neptune, capabilities. Has given up own company now. Details re pay rate for doing audits.
Tape 12 Side A: Current activities (cont'd). Had to keep up with seamanship issues, lifeboats etc when doing inspections. Describes sophisticated passage planning for ships, use of charts, course details. Reference to waypoints, electronic charts, hazard warnings, automatic steering etc. Seamen never go outside now. Engine rooms air conditioned, spotless, automated. Ships have incinerators for everything including sewage. Further details re automation of ships, maintenance. Compares with earlier days, eg when Chief Engineer had undeclared bunkers up his sleeve for emergencies. Own experience of need for this. Feelings about going to sea now, informality, different systems, safety regulations. Reference to Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), current qualifications. Went to sea at best time. Story of a mystery pipe found when doing an inspection. Recalls divers' saturation quarters. Details re divers' earnings, use of remote operated subsea vehicles. Details re current leisure activities including Lions, safety instruction, investment group which started with 29 members, now has ten. Awarded MBE 1993. Details. Reaction to award. Details re arrangements. Reaction of other people, Texaco to award. Describes award ceremony, discussion with Queen. Had UKOOA party. Details re other celebrations, photographs.
Tape 12 Side B: Blank |