Pioneering Divers

1965 and 1990 there were 56 confirmed diving fatalities in the North Sea; 40 British divers, 8 American divers, 5 Norwegian divers, 2 French divers and 1 Italian diver. There were also an equal or larger number of unconfirmed fatalities. Seventeen of these confirmed fatalities were in the Norwegian Sector. Most of these men had families. Very few of these families received any of the pensions they were entitled to under Norwegian Law.

Additionally there were a very large number of serious injuries and long term debilitating effects from diving done in the early days of North Sea oil exploitation.

Based on a Royal Commission, referred to as the “Lossius Commission” the Norwegian Government decided to award compensation to divers and or their families because the situation they faced. This compensation does in no way makes up for the loss of a father and husband or the men who suffered debilitating injuries but it does help contribute to a better life for the survivors.

The official English translation of the Commissions report can be found on: Read more>