Piper Alpha anniversary commemorations

The Scottish Government is to donate £100,000 to the Pound for Piper Memorial Trust to help maintain a memorial garden to the victims of the Piper Alpha disaster.

The funding was announced as the Scottish Government unveiled plans to mark the 25th anniversary of the disaster.

The donation will be made from money seized under proceeds of crime legislation, which is used to support worthwhile causes all across Scotland.

First Minister Alex Salmond said:

“Almost twenty-five years on, our first obligation to the 167 men who died in the Piper Alpha tragedy remains ensuring a disaster like this is never allowed to happen again.

“Thankfully, safety in the oil and gas industry has improved massively since the recommendations made in the Cullen report, but we owe it to the memory of those who were lost to continue to make safety absolutely the first priority for workers offshore.

“This is not just a question of ensuring a rigorous safety regime and renewing infrastructure, but also ensuring we have a properly-resourced coastguard on call to save lives and making certain our public services are funded properly.”

The Piper Alpha disaster happened on the night of 6th July 1988, when four massive explosions destroyed the Piper Alpha platform 110 miles north-east of Aberdeen.  167 men died - 165 on the platform and two on a rescue vessel. At the time, the platform was the biggest producer of oil in the north sea, turning out 120,000 barrels a day.

The Cullen Report following the public inquiry was published in November 1990.  It made 106 recommendations that have changed the offshore industry's health and safety culture.

Contact our Injury Solicitors in Scotland

Contact us today for advice from our specialist lawyers on any potential personal injury claims: click here to make an online enquiry or call us on 0800 027 1480.