Offshore log and reports, 1983-1991, on the provision of chaplaincy services to the North Sea oil industry, by Rev Andrew Wylie.

By the mid-1980s there were calls to consider the feasibility of providing non-denominational chaplaincy services to the UK offshore oil and gas industry. The Norwegian offshore chaplaincy had been established the previous decade when interest had been expressed in services being held on platforms, and had proved successful. Some companies, including Shell, encouraged the establishment of an offshore chaplaincy for the UK, though made it clear that denominational emphasis would not be tolerated.

Andrew Wylie, a Church of Scotland minister, was appointed as the first chaplain to the UK offshore industry in 1985. The chaplaincy was initially established as a pilot scheme, but soon demonstrated its value when Wylie provided vital support to survivors and bereaved relatives in the wake of the Chinook helicopter crash near Sumburgh in November 1986. The post became full time, with funds coming from the oil companies.

Wylie’s chaplaincy coincided with some of the greatest disasters to befall the North Sea oil industry in the 20th century. Within two years of the Chinook crash, Wylie found himself offering support in the immediate aftermath of the Piper Alpha disaster in 1988. Within hours of the explosion, he led prayers on board the Tharos, the fire fighting and rescue vessel which initially attempted to extinguish the fire, and subsequently made several visits to Claymore (Occidental) a sister platform of Piper Alpha in the days and weeks after the disaster. His chaplaincy was tested again in 1990, when a helicopter crashed into the Brent Spar platform.

Andrew Wylie’s offshore log records his visits to oil platforms in the North Sea, and his observations on conditions, working relations between management and staff, and staff morale. It also records the invaluable support he offered to survivors and bereaved relatives, both in the wake of major disasters as well as in response to smaller accidents which did not make news headlines, but which still had a traumatic outcome for those involved.

Notes gathered in relation to establishing the chaplaincy are also included, as are the first 5 annual reports for the Oil Industry Chaplaincy, 1986-1991.

Data Protection Principles apply to sections of the offshore log.