It was a Monday morning 39 years ago today that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians awoke to the devastating news that the Ocean Ranger Oil Rig had sunk, with a loss of 84 crew members.
It happened on a vicious Valentine’s Day winter storm off the east coast of the Island.
A rogue wave, during heavy seas struck the semi-submersible mobile drilling rig, breaking a porthole window and resulting in an inundation of water into the ballast control room, causing the rig to list.
A Mayday was sent just after midnight on the 15th, but rescue was hampered by the severe weather.
The last communication from the rig was around 1:30 am, indicating the crew were going into lifeboats. The rig sank shortly after 3 am.
Each year a Memorial Service is held at St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church, organized by Gonzaga High School where many of the victims went to school.
The service has been cancelled for this year because of the surging numbers of COVID-19. Instead a pre-recorded memorial will be posted on-line.
Courtesy VOCM