KIELLAND-NETTVERKET

Welcome to the support group Kielland-Network!

We are the board, representing the survivors and the bereaved after the Alexander L. Kielland disaster on March 27th, 1980. It remains Norway’s largest industrial disaster in peacetime, where 123 oil workers were killed and 89 barely survived, scarred for life. Between 300 and 400 children lost their father that day.

The Kielland disaster remains, to this day, our great national trauma.

After nearly 46 years, we have finally secured a parliamentary decision for state compensation to the victims — that is, the survivors and the bereaved.

We are now in a critical phase of our work to determine the amount and timing of the compensation payments. This requires intensive efforts with members of Parliament, and therefore frequent meetings in Oslo.

The board of the Kielland-Network support group, from left:

Gudny Hansen, Anders Helliksen (chairman),

Åse Kringlebotn, Roy Erling Furre, Jorunn Birkeland

and Merete Haslund. Photo: Private.

Without a single krone in state operating support, we are entirely dependent on contributions from our members and others who wish to help us — whether private individuals, trade unions, companies, or municipalities.

Here’s how you can support us; thank you so much in advance:

Vipps to 595202 or transfer to bank account: 3201 19 79679

(enter your name and email address as the payment reference)

Detailed bankinformation here.

We are happy to acknowledge support beyond membership here on our website, if desired.

Alexander Kielland disaster March 27 1980

On March 27, 1980, the oil platform “Alexander L. Kielland” capsized. This was the largest industrial accident in Norwegian history, 123 people died, of whom 30 were never found and 89 survived with physical and/or mental injuries. Several hundred children lost their father.

Facts about the Alexander L. Kielland accident:

123 died 89 survived.

Alexander L. The Kielland platform sank at a depth of 700 meters in the Nedstrandsfjorden on November 18, 1983.

The Kielland disaster occurred on March 27, 1980, on the Ekofisk field in the North Sea. One of the rig's five legs fell off, and after only 20 minutes the platform was upside down in rough seas. 123 people lost their lives and 89 survivors were marked for life. 30 of the dead were never found.

The cause of the accident, according to the investigation commission, was a fatigue fracture in a support strut in the platform's load-bearing structure. This caused one of the five pillars (platform legs) with a pontoon (floating element) that supported the platform to break off. After about 20 minutes, the platform capsized.

After several attempts to turn the rig, it was turned over in September 1983, and six of the then 36 missing people were found aboard the rig after it was stabilized on September 12.

The composition and work of the Commission of Inquiry have subsequently been heavily criticized. Several, including the Office of the Auditor General, believe it is reprehensible that the authorities involved Det Norske Veritas in both the investigation work and the operation to turn the rig around, as they were a party to the case – and because their independence could thus be questioned.

In addition, criticism has been raised from various circles against the commission's lack of analysis of how various factors and conditions interacted during the course of events. Among other things, this criticism concerns the lack of assessment of stability after water ingress through open doors and hatches that should have been closed, and the significance this had in causing the rig to capsize after only 20 minutes.

CLAIM FOR STATE COMPENSATION

ABOUT US

Bylaws

THE KIELLAND-NETWORK!

The Kielland Network is the support group for survivors and bereaved of the Kielland disaster in 1980, working for the best possible health and quality of life for the Kielland victims. We also seek government compensation and answers to unknown circumstances surrounding the incident and responsibility.

THE BOARD

* Anders Helliksen, chairman and suvivor
* Merete Haslund, deputy chairman - lost her father
* Gudny Hansen, lost her father at Kielland
* Jorunn Birkeland, trade union NITO
* Roy Erling Furre, trade union SAFE
* Åse Kringlebotn, responsible for member relation

NEWS

Now compensation will be paid in 2026

The Kielland network and their members rejoice

The Storting decided this afternoon that it will happen much faster than having to wait until sometime in 2027, 69 voted in favor, 32 voted against! Now the compensation will be paid sometime between March and June 2026, so survivors and bereaved can finally rejoice!

It has not been determined how much the amount will be per each of the 212 in Kielland;but already tomorrow until Friday, the board members, Anders Helliksen and Åse Kringlebotn, will be at the Storting to talk to as many as possible from the supporting parties; including the Conservative Party!(Because early this morning we received news that they have turned around, and will continue to support us!)

Our demand is 65G for everyone who was on board when the disaster occurred, which is the same as what the North Sea divers received. Our lawyers, SANDS Law Firm, believe that this creates a so-called precedent.

We quote Leif Monsen, who is a senior advisor at First House and works closely with the Kielland network and SANDS Law Firm.

"Today we passed a new and decisive milestone in this work. This happened when all parties in the Storting - with the exception of the Labour Party - decided to ask the government to submit a proposal for a compensation scheme for victims and survivors of the Kielland accident by March 2026. This is to follow up on the decision made by the previous Storting on 5 June this year on a special compensation scheme for the survivors and bereaved of the largest industrial accident in Norway ever."

"123 men lost their lives on this stormy and dark evening on the Ekofisk field in the North Sea, on 27 March 1980. 89 survived under dramatic circumstances, most of them scarred for life. One of them is Anders Helliksen, who is making an outstanding effort as head of the Kielland network.

After both the Norwegian National Audit Office and researchers at the University of Oslo have demonstrated how the authorities failed in handling this accident, it is now high time that injustice becomes justice, as the Kielland network has worked for. The victims are starting to get old. Only since the Storting decision on 5th June this year, six survivors and widows have passed away. Therefore, it is strongly overdue that society makes amends for those who sacrificed their lives and health for the country's oil wealth.

The Labour Party has no honourable history in this matter. They have failed all the way from the Nordli government's negligence to today's vote in the Storting, where they were left alone.

Now it will not be necessary for the victims to wait until the 2027 state budget, as the government planned after the Storting decision in June. Thanks to good forces in the Storting, the government must now promote the compensation scheme by March 2026. Then it is important that the scheme is at the same level as what the North Sea divers received after a lengthy and undignified process. That is, compensation equivalent to 65 G for each of the 212 who were on board the rig when the accident occurred."

14th of October 2025

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