Safety Offshore—Loss Prevention in a Pioneering Industry

The President recalls his early days in a coal mining community which kindled his interest in mechanical engineering, and tells of his subsequent introduction into the nascent offshore oil and gas industry in the early 1960s. His career has been closely linked to the development of devices to drill for and produce oil in harsh environments in all quarters of the globe. Many of the novel ideas that emanated from a pioneering industry were subjected to the author's evaluation and certification, and the more interesting of these are described, together with pointers for future offshore developments. The Piper Alpha accident in the North Sea resulted in the Cullen Inquiry, to which the author presented the evidence of the Institution. Subsequent to this he has examined operating procedures of many offshore organizations and submits his evaluation of the Cullen recommendation and the prospect for safer operations in the future. Finally the President looks at unification and related matters, and offers views on the way forward for the Institution.