he semi-submersible “flotel” (floating hotel) Alexander L. Kielland capsized on 27 March 1980 while bridge connected to the steel jacket Ekofisk Edda platform. The flotel lost one of its five legs in severe gale force winds, but not an extreme storm. The accident started with one of the bracings failing due to fatigue, thereby causing a succession of failures of all bracings attached to this leg. It was discovered during the investigation that the weld of an instrument connection on the bracing had contained cracks, which had probably been in existence since the rig was built. The cracks had developed over time, and the remaining steel was less than 50%.
When the leg came loose, the rig almost immediately developed a severe listing. Within 20 minutes of the initial failure it capsized completely, floating upside down with just the bottom of the columns visible in the sea.
Both the escape and evacuation operations were far from orderly and had only limited success. Only one lifeboat was in fact launched successfully, one was totally unavailable due to the listing, and others were smashed against the platform during launching in high waves. The final death toll was 123 fatalities and 89 survivors.
2013.04.29 - Alexander L. Kielland Capsize Accident in North Sea Figure 2
The Alexander L. Kielland was designed as an oil drilling platform with a pentagon structure by France, and it was constructed from 1969 through 1977 by CFEM (Compagnie Francaise d’Enterprises Metalliques). The platform was delivered to Norway in July 1976. In 1978, the accommodation capacity of 80 was increased to 348. Annual inspections were mainly carried out for the columns and pontoons, and the inspection in September 1979 had passed. However the bracing that failed had not been included in the inspection.
On 27 March 1980 in driving rain and mist more than 200 men were off duty in the accommodation on Alexander L. Kielland. The wind was gusting to 40 knots (74 km/h) with waves up to 12 m high. The rig had just been winched away from the Edda production platform.
