Piper Alpha oil rig

[j.sabourn]

Cappy your little ship at the top of your post is making me sea sick is rolling all the time. Thought the second bottle of whiskey had affected my eyes. All the best. John sabourn

[cappy]

john the little ship sailing is very hypnotic I just sit with my beer watching it and get the fine feeling im rolling home to canny shields .......and the bonny lasses there

[j.sabourn]

Keith you are quite right in what you say and realize this. Let me also say I have been on this site since 2008 and know if I had been unable to release the pressure at times in stating a few things I would have been a lot worse. So thank you to the Site owner and the members for allowing me to put up. It is not what I could converse with my family about as would not wish them to be subject to any of the horrors witnessed. As mostly are seamen ex or otherwise and are others who profess an interest in ships here, I do not have to mince my words and there are probably more on this site who have had similar experiences. Seamen are a different breed and find can talk to them whereas a shore person has different aspects on life. Apart from the 8 page report of the Silver Pit which I have left hopefully for great grandchildren if there are ever any, and are seeking information , all is on this site in different places. The 2 Books which others have written the first even before the enquiry was finished I would say take with a pinch of salt and I have very little time for the author. The second tries to stick to the facts, but the information comes from non seafarers, so also do not take as gospel. I have one regret, one of the survivors at the early part of the operation came to me wanting seasick tablets, and I sent him off with a flea in his ear. Months after there was a report of a suicide by one of the survivors and I hope it wasn't this one. .Apart from official documents received from Downing Street, The DTI, and various well wishers and of course my local MP ( probably wanting my vote) I will attempt to copy. a letter from the owners. Ten days later I had resigned as was leaving prior to joining the Silver Pit which was a pier head jump at the time. I then joined Harrisons of Clyde , much better vessels including the Sandhaven. Letter from Owners " Dear John, On behalf of the Chairman and Board of Directors of Nomis Ltd., I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for the magnificent job that you did following the Piper Alpha disaster. Word cannot express, fully, just how proud we are, to think that you carried on with your duties in the face of such terrible dangers and that you were able to save over half of the total number of survivors. I have had messages of congratulations for you all from Occidental, the Department of Transport, an associated company in Norway and from some of the other Stand By operators. I have also been told many of the survivors have been telling the media that they owe their lives to the crew of the Silver Pit. Once again, can I convey our most sincere thanks and appreciation for conducting such a marvellous rescue operation. Yours sincerely Etc. etc." Pity they didn't have the same appreciation when it came to wages and conditions. However the press would not print my remarks about wages and conditions, what a slimy bunch some of them are. As said I believe this site more or less has all my remarks apart from the long one. After 25 years hope it can now be put to rest, if that were possible. Best Regards John Sabourn.

[Keith at Tregenna]

I would like to state that I have met john and had a beer with him I know he is a good 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

That is one heck of an accolade. Respect: Keith.

[Captain Kong]

Hi John
I can feel for you and your experience.
Events or disasters such as that one can can linger in your mind for ever. You can never forget it only learn to live with it.
Yes regarding the Mayday calls etc they are always recorded in the Log Book,
I learned that lesson at the Court of Inquiry on the Pool Fisher Disaster.
The QC representing the Owners , James Fisher & Son. asked me if I had logged the conversation I had with the Second Mate of the Pool Fisher. I said `No`. He then said `and Why not? should you not log everything that happens on your watch? I said that `sometimes there are many VHF calls to other ships but cannot record everyone.
also he was not in Distress at that time.
At the time of the conversation I had informed the Snd Mate that his ship was well down by the head and his stern high out of the water and that was the reason he was steering badly. The 2nd mate told me he was OK and was continuing his voyage. So as Nothing had happened, no assistance required, I felt that I had no reason to log it.
But next watch when I heard that the Pool Fisher had sunk I then logged the Broad casts coming from Niton Radio.
also the calls I made to Niton showing her estimated position when the Search was centred 25 miles away. Later the search was bruoght up to my position and two young lads were saved.
But these QCs have a habit of making you feel guilty.
Brian

PS I could be in Perth next February.

[Keith Tindell]

I can relate to where John and Kong are in this. On leaving the MN and joined the Fire Service, in my later years was in charge of a watch (equivalent to a bosun, i suppose), on attending an incident, i would be the first person there. The next day, after senior officers had perused the radio messages, looked at the site of the fire, checked all my actions etc, would then query why i did this or that. My usual reply was if i had had hours to think about what action to take, i may have done something different, but i only had seconds to decide. We are very wise after the event . Guess its the same with the enquiries you guys attended. You have my full sympathy Regards KT

[j.sabourn]

Brian, I can tell you there was nothing in my log book of events during the disaster. If they expect such they should employ a secretary on board the ship. To think of standing and filling in a log book whilst men are dying around you borders on the insane, nobody questioned my lack of entries maybe they knew what the answer would be if they tried. One idiot representing some trade union on the platform asked me why I went so close into the platform, I saw red, cant remember my reply but shortly after this I was excused from the stand. As regards radio messages the ones I put out were within the first 10 minutes of the initial explosion, the first being a Pan followed very quickly with a Mayday, but without the Relay, this is in my statements to the DTI. After this the roaring and noise blotted out most things, and was trying to keep sight of my FRC with 4 crew members in. All during this I was steering in hand trying to hear my boat on vhf looking for people in the water, trying at times to avoid where I subconsciously thought the next piece of burning debris was going to shoot off. On top of this the pitch on the propeller kept losing so half the time had no engine as such. One individual rescued early was rushing in and out of the wheelhouse letting all the noise in, told him to come in and close the door or get the F... off the bridge, he even then was composing what he thought would be a best seller as he told everyone he was going to write a book on this. Personally I don't give two hoots whose feelings I hurt now, if they want to sue they will get nowt as am not worth suing. I am pleased that Lord Cullen who was leading the enquiry used his head, especially when he recommended bigger crews on such vessels, however I should imagine this made me no friends with the oil companies. If your passing through Perth lets know and will pick you up. Cheers John Sabourn

[Captain Kong]

Thanks for that John, I will let you know nearer the time.
So far we are sailing as far as Sydney, then after a few days get across to Perth.
Cheers
Brian.

[leratty]

Ivan, amen sadly so true!