Piper Alpha oil rig

Jim ( Egan), you were there so probably know what I am saying. Hope the wedding in Amsterdam went off ok. Sorry missed seeing you this time. Cheers John Sabourn

I have just read the posts of that horror disaster it was great to read Johns account of some of the things that did happen to you John it must have been a terrible experience

Ref. to this post, I have already committed certain posts in Breaking News The Costa Concordia # 96 #123 And in post Piper Alpha oil rig #7 #9. Fire in the night; Now. #4#5#7. Some of the info. I passed on to documentary makers, I will try and post here a small note I made out for my own benefit and which I will in this case leave out a few items of personal affairs re other people.
" Since the reporter was in touch with me in 2008. 20 years after the Piper Alpha Disaster, I thought I had the after effects in hand as good as could be expected, however I have found for the 3 years since then my mind is too active and recurrent nightmares which took the best part of 20 years to put down soon come back to the surface. ( 6 Lines missing.. personal). I will therefore put down my personal thoughts which are not for the public at this time, and will add to them as necessary hoping to once again to clear my head.
1. My general attitude to life is probably the same as it always has been.
2. My attitude to people, I find they don't think and move as quick as they should.
3. My own temperment is more fiery, but I think I have already dealt with this.
4. Going over my own actions, which I started shortly after the disaster, keep coming to the surface, these consist of my actions and the reasons why consciously and unconsciously that I took. I know or insist to myself that they were correct.
5. The short time I was at the Enquiry the lady who followed me around, and only wanted to touch and talk, I don't know to this day whether it was a survivors wife or widow.
6. My anger at not being able to help more of those lost.
7. My insistence of taking a solicitor with me to the enquiry, and Numast saying it wasn't necessary, but on my insistence they did supply.
8. My positive action in going into the floating debris.. shortly after I asked myself this question, as of course there was the added danger of fouling the propeller, but must have subconsciously thought if there were things floating there was no gas present. Gas in the water would have been a killer for the ship as would have lost stability, and could have gone down like a stone.
9. At the informal and private enquiry at Occidentals office was asked if first explosion could have been a bomb. I replied I didn't think so, but there again what does a bomb look and sound like. I suppose every explosion sounds different, I did mention that the first survivor who stepped on board was of mid eastern appearance, but they seemed to know the character very well and was above suspicion.
10. Asked about bodies in the water, said there were, on given the statement to sign which was written by a stenographer during this interview, I crossed out and said shown no signs of life. These bits and parts were sometimes headless, limbless or bits and pieces, and I made no attempt to recover as there were life persons to try to safe.
11. Asked at the Enquiry why I didn't give the Frenchman a shot of morphine, is a stupid question to me, as apart from not being in an available position at the time, would have had to leave the bridge and try and find the one ampoule in the cabin drawer somewhere and then find a syringe and put into same. If had found the time to do this I doubt whether I could have done as my hands were shaking that much, and they stayed in my pockets whenever I could get them there. I answered morphine would not have saved his life.
Run out of space will continue on Number 12. Later. John Sabourn

12 Sometime during or shortly after the final explosion someone from Aberdeen Coastguard or whoever was asking me by radio, what the survivors were wearing, as they were all different I was a bit confused about this, so they asked me what I was wearing, I was wearing trousers, shirt and carpet slippers which I wore all the time as had no time to change, and believe was the same until arrived back in Aberdeen.
13 Unlucky number leave out.
14 Trying to self analyse myself, I have asked why it is taking so long to put in the recesses of my mind. Have had numerous past experiences, death, attempted murder, collision of ships and other assorted sometimes mind boggling experiences, which have had nightmares about afterwards, but after a couple of years have managed to put aside.
15 I tell myself it was because there was so much death in so small an area.
16. Involves other peoples private lives. 20 lines. omitted
17 First 6 lines ditto. rest unnecessary.
18. When the reporter asked me for my thoughts during and after, he wouldn't like to hear, I assure myself, I was cursing to myself all the other ships which to my mind at the time were holding back, not launching boats and getting in closer. The only boats I was aware of when they were needed was the Sandhavens, and the lifeboat or workboat from the Lowland Cavalier, the only ship that came anywhere near the conflageration was the Maersk Cutter. However it was to each master of each vessel their responsibility to the risks involved. After as stated it was the astonishment at the few number of survivors rescued from other areas. This was soul destroying.Run out again JS

18 + I make no accusation against any other vessel as have no right to do so, but we all have consciences and hope all the other masters have clear ones. 14 lines omitted private.
19 About other persons not involved in disaster
20 My insistence of a solicitor present at my going on the stand at the Enquiry. Nomis had the deep sea custom of the master going to the custom house to have his name and certificate number put on the ships register. This to my mind effectively put the master solely responsible for the vessel i.e. he was in effect the owner. This is an old dodge of shipowners, and all the time I was in the North Sea were the only company to do this. Another 12 lines of private commentary.
21 Arriving home after the disaster for the first 3 days I found consolence in 3 bottles of spirits I borrowed from my son who had received them as Xmas presents from his firm and as he didn't drink I consumed them for him. 5 lines of private.
22. XXXXXXXXXXXX said to me said to me that he couldn't get XXXXX out of his cabin. As I later saw him on deck and working I put this out of my mind. On reflection he had served on minesweepers during the war and as we all react differently perhaps he was reliving past experiences who knows, or maybe he was just tired.

# 23 to #28 when get the space and time. This is only one document of many which was passed to various people wanting info. to make documentary. There were no omissions in them and got it all uncensored. Nothing was left out and is a true account of my involvement in this incident. If Brian Kong reads this, I believe I asked him in a previous post whether he can remember if any of the distress calls were logged with their times etc. As I do have in the next few paragraphs notes of what I believed at the time. Cheers John Saborn.

23 The coxn of the FRC told me later that he had tried to put some survivors on another vessel but had been unable to do so. I do know however other survivors picked up by the S.Ps frc were taken to other vessels. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 8 lines censored.
24 I have read various on the internet re the Piper Alpha. There is where the kids and family of the men lost say their bit. One where the young son looks up to his father was putting out the maydays before dying. I think in no way should he be told any different. I know that the control room which is where the radio room was , was wiped out very early.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx6 lines censored.
25 Was at least one time when I thought our number was up. The only consolation was I was going with others. All this about a past life appearing is hogwash.
26. Loss of Sandhavens boat discussed earlier.
27. When I told my boat crew I would follow them in, I really meant this, and as long as they were there it was my obligation to be there also. I would not give anyone a job I wouldn't do myself.
28. I cant think of anything else at present so will wind this down.
29.05.11. Made up from other statements and info on at date stated. John Sabourn

John, Horrific stories and memories for you, and obviously one that will affect you for the rest of your life. I think it is good to let others know, and remember we are all seamen, and so can relate in a small way with your decisions you had to make, thank you for your thoughts, KT

Keith, my full recollection from start to finish ( arriving back in Aberdeen) is 8 full pages of typewritten foolscap, a copy of this was also passed to the documentary makers, one of whom is a journalist. I told him when I passed over there were private instances in which some may take umbrage at, so doubt whether he will leave himself open to any libel charges for invasion of privacy. After passing to him it was like a load being lifted off my head. I did at the time think his coverage of the program would have gone further than it did, as a whole lot of people in different parts of the world were I believe interviewed, however after my being over there early on in the what I hoped would be more coverage of the seamen involved ,and getting home I received a phone call from a lady in Scottish TV, what I think has happened is that they sold the rights to the Scottish television people who were then in control. She asked me if I would be willing to have another interview, and I more or less told her I had already done it and had no plans to return to the UK just then., As I said in a previous post, I was certainly not all shook up at what was finally produced all that was done could have been shown on a half hour program. I have a copy of the program which at the moment a friend has who works on the safety sector on the NW shelf out here in WA. Maybe he may get something out of it for his lectures. After watching it once I have no inclination to watch it a second time. Regards John Sabourn

I would like to state that I have met john and had a beer with him I know he is a god and honest man I would have been proud to have had him as a close friend ...and would also knowing the measure of the man been proud to have sailed with him ......he is the true measure of a merchant seaman and ships master ....I salute you john .....don't forget save me some whisky best wishes john cappy