Thursday 19 February 2009

Oil & Gas UK Comments on Rescue of Workers and Crew after Helicopter Ditching

Chris Allen, Oil & Gas UK's health, safety and environment director, said:

"Oil & Gas UK applauds all those excellent people involved in the swift and safe rescue of all on board the Super Puma that ditched in the North Sea last night (Wednesday 18 February 2009).

"UK helicopter operations are the safest in the world thanks to the oil and gas industry's commitment to improving offshore safety performance over recent decades, through investment in research, new systems and new aircraft.

"Last night, the extensive training undertaken by offshore workers to enable them to escape safely from a ditched helicopter was successfully put into practice. Since 2004, BP has invested over a hundred million pounds implementing the Jigsaw system, a new regional approach to rescue and recovery offshore. The rescue was smoothly executed using these Jigsaw resources.

"But whilst this is the safest region in the world for helicopter operations, the UK oil and gas industry will not rest on its laurels. It is determined to continually improve and, notwithstanding the economic downturn, 2009 will see additional multi-million pound investment to further improve helicopter safety."

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Sally Fraser

Oil & Gas UK Media Relations                       

2nd Floor                                                        

232-242 Vauxhall Bridge Road          

London SW1V 1AU                

                       

Tel:                 020 7802 2404

Email:             sfraser@oilandgasuk.co.uk

Pager :            07659 183 999

Website :         http://www.oilandgasuk.co.uk