Summary
The Ocean Ranger disaster occurred on February 15, 1982, when the semi-submersible offshore drilling rig, sank off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, in the North Atlantic. A severe winter storm caused massive waves and hurricane-force winds, leading to water breaching the rig’s ballast control room. A series of mechanical and human errors in handling the flooding worsened the situation, and eventually, the rig capsized. Tragically, all 84 crew members on board died, marking the worst disaster in Canadian offshore oil exploration history.
The disaster highlighted serious flaws in the rig’s design, safety protocols, and training of the crew. Investigations revealed that the crew was not adequately prepared to manage the emergency and that life-saving equipment, such as lifeboats and survival suits, were insufficient or ineffective in the harsh conditions. The incident led to significant changes in safety regulations and standards in offshore drilling operations, both in Canada and worldwide, aimed at protecting industry workers.
Gallery
The Ocean Ranger Crew
| Jim Dodd Derek Escott Cyril Greene Derek Holden Rick Sheppard Frank Smit Daniel Conway Terrance Dwyer Fred Harnum Randy Noseworthy John Pinhorn Dennis Ryan William Smith Woodrow Warford Tom Hatfield Arthur Dagg Kenneth Chafe Gerald Clarke Douglas Putt Gary Crawford Norman Halliday Wayne Miller Gord Mitchell Perry Morrison Greg Caines Wayne Drake Cliff Kuhl Robert Wilson David Chalmers Robert Howell Robert Fenez Jack Jacobson Robert Madden George Augot Nicholas Baldwin Kenneth Blackmore Thomas Blevins David Boutcher Wade Brinston Paul Bursey Norman Dawe Thomas Donlon Joseph Burry Leon Droddy William Dugas Domenic Dyke Andrew Evoy Randell Ferguson Ronald Foley Melvin Freid Carl Fry George Grandy Guy Garbeau Regineld Gorum Capt. Clarence Hauss Ron Heffernan Gregory Hickey Robert Hicks Albert Howell Harold LeDrew Robert LeDrew Michael Maurice Ralph Melendy Ken O’Brien Paschal Joesph O’Neill George Palmer Clyde Parsons | Donald Pieroway Willie Powell Gerald Power Donald Rathbun William Smith Ted Stapleton Benjamin Kent Thompson Craig Tilley Gerald Vaughn Michael Watkin Robert Winsor Stephen Winsor Robert Arsenault Darryl Reid Greg Tiller Robert Fenez Jack Jacobson Robert Madden George Augot Nicholas Baldwin Kenneth Blackmore Thomas Blevins David Boutcher Wade Brinston Paul Bursey Norman Dawe Thomas Donlon Joseph Burry Leon Droddy William Dugas Domenic Dyke Andrew Evoy Randell Ferguson Ronald Foley Melvin Freid Carl Fry George Grandy Guy Garbeau Regineld Gorum Capt. Clarence Hauss Ron Heffernan Gregory Hickey Robert Hicks Albert Howell Harold LeDrew Robert LeDrew Michael Maurice Ralph Melendy Ken O’Brien Paschal Joesph O’Neill George Palmer Clyde Parsons Donald Pieroway Willie Powell Gerald Power Donald Rathbun William Smith Ted Staplton Benjamin Kent Thompson Craig Tilley Gerald Vaughn Michael Watkin Robert Winsor Stephen Winsor Robert Arsenault Darryl Reid Greg Tiller |
Sources
Canadian Royal Commission Investigation Report:
https://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/200/301/pco-bcp/commissions-ef/hickman1984-85-eng/hickman1984-85-eng.htm
- https://sma.nasa.gov/docs/default-source/safety-messages/safetymessage-2011-12-12-thesinkingoftheoceanranger-vits.pdf?sfvrsn=bcae1ef8_4
- https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/MCR/article/view/18012/21948
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/ocean-ranger-1.6351835
- https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2016/bcp-pco/Z1-1982-1-1-9-eng.pdf
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1982/04/23/drill-rig-captain-9-days-before-sinking-opened-wrong-valve/56eb41ec-3fa9-4bae-b29e-f4202fcf501f
- https://www.usdeadlyevents.com/1982-feb-15-storm-ocean-ranger-oil-rig-sinks-grand-banks-canada-84-15-us
- https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/03/25/Panic-stricken-crew-members-from-the-doomed-oil-rig-Ocean/5273417416400
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1984/10/28/drilling-farther-deeper/139080ee-fe16-4f44-89d9-ec13edee35d2
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1984/10/29/command-splintered-on-sea-rigs/abea8a33-05bc-479a-b38f-5f02bf4c96af
- https://www.shipsandoil.com/Features/Ocean%20Ranger.htm
- https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/04/28/Ocean-Ranger-lifeboats-called-inadequate/8100388814400/
- https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/04/07/A-supply-boat-captain-said-Thursday-he-saw-the/6263418539600/