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Pioneer Divers in the Norwegian Sector of the North Sea


The Norwegian Authorities Turn Even More Pathetic - The NSDA Response

International media have given the ongoing trial in Oslo a healthy amount of interest in the first week of the proceedings. 24 cases are being heard to set a precedent for the more than 150 cases, so far, that have joined as plaintiffs claiming violation of a majority of the main clauses in the European Human Rights convention in the way the divers were informed and treated when questioning possible health hazards in their working environment. The plaintiffs claim, and can prove, that the authorities were fully aware of the fact that the vast majority of divers working in the North Sea would either suffer life debilitating injuries, or be killed on the job. They bear therefore seeking compensation from the state that effectively robbed them of a chance for a reasonable quality of life.

It is in particular the coverage given by the correspondent from the Associated press that has travelled the world, and a Google search for key words will result in more than twenty thousand hits. Hence the entire world is now aware of the actions of the Norwegian authorities, and hopefully this attention will trigger more of our colleagues from the North Sea coming forward with their experiences.

In a more than embarrassing attempt to counter this adverse publicity (on their part), the authorities Friday published a haphazard rehash of old claims as to what they’ve actually done for the divers. This hodgepodge of semi truths was sent out through the “information”-service Calibre. An agency devoted to let everybody and anybody who pay them for it, have their stories published. It must be food for thought, even for the government, that the only way they can get anybody interested is by offering them money…

What’s actually said in the story is flawed to the point of being worthless, and true to form the authorities do not hesitate to take credit for other people’s work and ideas.
• The article mentions the first compensation of 200 thousand kroner, but fails to mention that that effort only saw the light of day after several years of pressure and lobbying by the divers, neither was the compensation offered to foreign nationals.
• One brags about the medical services offered at Haukeland hospital. Again this is off limits to foreign nationals, and again the only reason it’s there at all is due to the efforts of the committed staff at the hospital and the divers in conjunction.
• The 300 thousand kroner immediate aid is also an issue. What the governments story neglects to mention is that these monies are deducted from the compensation when that is given. Yet again nothing for foreign nationals.
• And finally the official story has the galling audacity to take credit for the establishing of the foundation that is set up to further the diver’s interests and help them with their day-to-day problems in coping with the bureaucracy. Firstly the authorities had NOTHING to do with the inception of the foundation. The “Dykkerkontakten” was set up jointly by the divers and the Norwegian Seaman’s church. And only after extensive dragging of collective feet did the government agree to fund an extremely austere budget. Secondly, and to the point of tedium, the foundation is effectively limited by resources and otherwise in being any help at all to foreign nationals.

The published article is the final proof that the responsible authorities have not one single piece of mitigating evidence to put forward in their defence. It is the prerogative of the state to prove that diving was safe, and that one did everything possible to ensure the diver’s a healthy work environment. The fact that THIS is what they are able to come up with is more telling than any argument we could put forward.

If any one out there is serious and can help to find the families, or who just wants more information please contact me directly:

Tom Wingen
Brunla Gård. N-3294 Stavern, Norway
Tel: (+47) 959 444 85 | E-mail: mail@pioneerdivers.org