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

MEMORIAL AT BROKEN LINK

27th of March 2026

Today, survivors and bereaved families gathered at the Broken Link memorial at Smiodden to remember those who never made it home from work. Four bereaved families traveled a long way to attend the memorial service, 2 from the UK and 2 from Scotland.

Gudny Hansen, board member, gave a powerful speech in the rain and wind, reminiscent of the weather on that fateful day.

I dag er det 46 år siden boplattformen Alexander Kielland veltet.
♡Today marks 46 years since the Alexander Kielland housing platform collapsed.

Dette er ennå i dag norges største industri ulykke eller riktig sagt katastrofe.
♡This is still Norway's largest industrial accident, or rather disaster.

123 menn ble drept og 89 overlevde på en mirakulos måte.
♡123 men were killed and 89 miraculously survived.

Jeg sier DREPT da dette var en varslet ulykke, som betyr at denne såkalte ULYKKEN kunne ha vært unngått.
♡I say KILLED because this was a predicted accident, which means that this so-called ACCIDENT could have been avoided.

Vi som mistet våre kjære har ventet i 46 år på sannhet, forsoning og rettferdighet. For noen av oss er det vårt hele liv.
♡We who lost our loved ones have waited 46 years for truth, reconciliation and justice. For some of us, it's our entire lives.

Så mye smerte som ble påført foreldrer, enker og barn. Alt på grunn av grådighet og det viste seg at penger var viktigere enn menneskeliv. Over 400 barn ble berørt.
♡So much pain inflicted on parents, widows and children. All because of greed and it turned out that money was more important than human life. Over 400 children were affected.

I vårt samfunn i dag er det umulig å forstå, at når skaden hadde skjedd, fikk berørte ingen hjelp. Faktisk ALDRI i de 46 årene som har gått.
♡In our society today, it is impossible to understand that once the damage had occurred, those affected received no help. In fact, NEVER in the 46 years that have passed.

Noen ble truet med å miste jobben sin, noen ble truet med penger for å unngå søksmål...
♡Some were threatened with losing their jobs, some were threatened with money to avoid lawsuits...

På burdagen min i fjor, 5.juni skjedde et mirakkel, etter mer enn 45 år etter katastrofen bestemte Stortinget seg for å betale overlevende og etterlatte compensasjon.
♡On my birthday last year, June 5th, a miracle happened. More than 45 years after the disaster, the Storting decided to pay compensation to survivors and bereaved families.

Det var for godt til å være sant.... og nå 10 måneder senere er Stortinget ikke enig om beløp og prøver det største politiske partiet AP å betale ut så lite som mulig.
♡It was too good to be true.... and now 10 months later the Storting cannot agree on the amount and the largest political party, the Labor Party, is trying to pay out as little as possible.

Norge er en av rikeste nasjonen i hele verden og takket være mannskapet ombord på Kielland ble Norge rik oljenasjon.
♡Norway is one of the richest nations in the world and thanks to the crew aboard the Kielland, Norway became a rich oil nation.

På grunn av at Norge skjulte årsakene til katastrofen, fortsatte de å få oppgaver på Nordsjøen.
♡Because Norway concealed the causes of the disaster, they continued to receive assignments in the North Sea.

Penger kan ikke måles med et liv, men det kan være plaster på såret...
♡Money can't be measured by a life, but it can be a band-aid on the wound...

Vi krysser fingrene at våre fedrer, sønner og barnebarn får et verdig oppgjør og at vi endelig kan slutte å kjempe om deres verdighet.
♡We cross our fingers that our fathers, sons and grandsons receive a dignified settlement and that we can finally stop fighting for their dignity.

Jeg må innrømme at det tærer på, samtidig som det føles bra å kunne bidra. Jeg er nå 23 år eldre enn pabba ble og skulle ønske at han og de 211, som var ombord den skjebnedagen fikk en verdig avslutning.
♡I must admit that it takes its toll, but it feels good to be able to contribute. I am now 23 years older than my dad was and I wish that he and the 211, who were on board that fateful day get a dignified end.

Jeg er utrolig takknemlig for å ha blitt kjent med dere.
♡I am incredibly grateful to have met you.

Dere som har gått igjennom det samme helvete som jeg.
♡Those who have gone through the same hell as me.

Dere som forstår smerten og ønsker og ønsker så sårt at få dette kapitellet stengt så godt som det er mulig.
♡Those who understand the pain and want and desire so badly to have this chapter closed as best as possible.

Vi er venner for livet.
♡We are friends for life.

Til slutt ønsker jeg å minnest overlevende og etterlatte som kjempet for rettferdighet i lag med oss men har gått bort i det siste.
♡Finally, I would like to remember the survivors and bereaved who have fought for justice alongside us but have passed away recently.

En av dem er enken Lynne Walker, som etterlater seg tre barn. Lynnes begravelse er i dag, samme dag som mannen hennes mistet livet for 46 år siden.
♡One of them is the widow Lynne Walker who leaves behind 3 children. Lynne's funeral is today, the same day as her husband lost his live 46 years ago.

Dere vil alltid være i våre hjerter.
♡You will always be in our hearts.