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The Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Norway to set up compensation scheme for 1980 oil rig disaster victims' families
Forty-five years after the Alexander L Kielland oil rig capsized in the North Sea, Norway's parliament has voted to set up a compensation scheme for relatives of the 123 men who died in the worst disaster in Norwegian waters since the second world war. 'This is a historic day, the end of more than four decades of fighting for justice,' said Mímir Kristjánsson, an MP from the leftwing Red party. The chair of the victims' committee, Anders Helliksen, said the state had 'finally accepted its responsibility'. The Kielland, a semi-submersible platform that at the time was housing 212 workers from the nearby Edda drilling rig, capsized when one of its five legs snapped in strong winds and high seas on 27 March 1980. Twenty-three Britons were among the dead. Several investigations have failed to assign responsibility, with the rig's French builders blamed for structural failings and its Norwegian and US owner and operator, Stavanger Drilling and Phillips Petroleum, for not maintaining or anchoring it properly. The disaster led to major changes in safety routines and regulations in the oil industry, but a report by experts at the University of Stavanger this year concluded the Norwegian authorities' actions before and after the collapse were seriously flawed. While the immediate cause was a welding defect, multiple mistakes contributed to the heavy loss of life: doors and hatches were left open, only five workers onboard had had safety training, and the platform was never approved for use as living quarters. 'This incident became a disaster because of a long chain of negligence, omissions and violations of rules designed precisely to prevent an accident becoming a disaster,' one of the report's authors, Eva Joly, said earlier this year. She told Norwegian media: 'The fatigue failure itself could also have been discovered if normal audit requirements had been met and exemptions had not been granted. This was the state's responsibility.' The 89 survivors and the bereaved families – between 300 and 400 children lost their fathers, according to campaigners – received some compensation from Phillips and Stavanger Drilling's insurers in the 80s, but no payout from the state. 'Many have had a very difficult time, with trauma, psychiatric issues, substance abuse and poor finances,' the Kielland Network said on its website. The state was also accused of failing to properly investigate the disaster or care properly for victims. Norway's parliament, the Storting, formally apologised for state authorities' shortcomings in 2022, a year after the national auditor general issued strongly worded criticism of the government for failing in its duty to victims. The parliamentary motion said: 'It is now time for the victims of the largest industrial accident in Norwegian history to receive compensation – making it also possible for survivors, bereaved families and society at large to put an end to this matter.' Passed by a narrow majority, it demanded the government set up a 'separate compensation scheme' for the Kielland victims, and that the auditor general 'clarify the state's responsibility' for the disaster and its lack of support for victims. 'The fact that this has taken so long shows that the state has never taken any responsibility for what happened in the North Sea,' said one survivor, Oddbjørn Lerbrekk. 'It's about time.' The amount of compensation has not yet been set.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
One of Europe's biggest theme parks opens new Wild West themed holiday village with wagon huts and cowboy bars
A NEW cowboy themed holiday village has opened at one of Europe's biggest theme parks. Advertisement 6 The new area of Europa-Park is Wild West-themed Credit: Europa-Park 6 There are wagons, tents and cabins that guests can stay in Credit: Europa-Park Inside, visitors can set up camp in the accommodation village called Tipi Town - which has 630 beds. Unlike most holiday villages, here you can sleep in a rustic wagon, or cosy log cabin, so you'll really feel like you're in the wild west. There are also colourful tipi-style tents or western-themed houses. Alternatively, you can camp in your own vehicle in the Europa-Park caravan park or sleep under the stars in your own tent. Advertisement Read More on Theme Parks The new accommodation can sleep from one person all the way up to 16 - if you choose to stay in one of the log cabins. It's set to get even bigger too. In 2026 there will be a new Riverside Western Lodge with 120 rooms. The huge guest house will be open for bookings from November 11, 2025. Also in 2026 will be a new brewery with its very own craft beer. Advertisement Most read in News Travel Gold Rush Golf is a mini-golf course across the site - and anyone can have a go. The challenging course has towers, slides and twelve holes to swing into. European theme park where you 'visit' Greece, Spain and Italy in a day has new roller coaster that's the world's steepest 6 There's a whole zone dedicated to the Wild West Credit: Europa-park 6 The Diner Station has train carriages that you can eat inside Credit: Europa-park There's also an adventure playground with a steam train, swimming lake and campfires. Advertisement On the village site are also four new diners. One is called the Diner Station, which is in a western themed train station. You can even enjoy delights of the buffet in specially designed carriages that have been fitted with tables. There's also the Wild Horse Bar where you can have a tipple of whiskey like a cowboy, or beer and a cocktail too. Silver Lake Saloon serves up hearty North American dishes like steak and barbecue ribs. Advertisement Finally, there's Cantina Amigo where you can order burritos, chilli and burgers. 6 The Comfort Wagon has heating, air conditioning and a flat screen TV Credit: Europa-Park You'll find the outdoor pool Svømmepøl in the Rulantica water world, it's 660sqm and sits inside a Nordic-style 'volcanic landscape' and is heated to 32C. Advertisement The theme park recently The Grand Prix EDventure is the equivalent of a ghost train with an interactive gaming element. The park's mice mascots Ed and Edda will be racing, and the ride will be based on the upcoming film, 'Grand Prix of Europe', a cartoon film that stars Ed and Edda voiced by One Advertisement He also added that Europa-Park should be known for its thrilling white-knuckle rides. 6 Europa-Park has opened its Wild West-themed park Credit: Europa-park Advertisement
