Piper Alpha Wreck
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Wreck Category | non-dangerous wreck |
|
Piper alpha Wreck Location Marine Coordinates (DMM) |
58 27.962 N,0 15.52 E |
| Latitude, Longitude Decimal Degrees |
|
| Wreck Depth | 86 m |
| Water Depth | 144 m |
| Water Level Effect | always under water/submerged |
| Vertical Datum | Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide |
| Name | PIPER ALPHA |
| Type | Platform |
| Length | 295 m |
| Width | 120.1 m |
| Sonar Length | 295 |
| Sonar Width | 120 |
| Orientation | 137 |
| Tonnage | 12500 |
| Tonnage Type | displacement |
| Conspic Visual | not visually conspicuous |
| Conspic Radar | not radar conspicuous |
| Date Sunk | Mar 28, 1989 |
| Original Detection Year | 1988 |
| Last Detection Year | 1999 |
| Original Source | survey vessel |
| Markers | Y SPAR FL(4) Y 15S, BELL. 500MTR EXCLUSION ZONE |
| Surveying Details | H3399/88 28.4.89 POSN 582801.1N, 001532.7E [EUR]. LEAST DEPTH RECORDED BY ROV USED TO EXAMINE WRECKAGE WAS 86.3MTRS. SURVEY WORK STILL PROGRESSING. (MARINE OCCIDENTAL, ABERDEEN, TLX DTD 24.4.89). NCA YET. HH254/440/01 18.8.89 WRECKAGE EXAM'D BETWEEN 28 MAR AND 2 APL '89. PLATFORM SHOWN CUT OFF SOME 57MTRS ABOVE GEN DEPTH OF 144MTRS, WITH LEAST DEPTH 86.3MTRS. CENTRE OF WRECKAGE IN 582800.1N, 001537.2E [EUR]. LIES 137/317 DEG WITH OVERALL LENGTH OF ABOUT 295MTRS. WIDTH 15MTRS AT NW END; 65MTRS AT CENTRE, 120MTRS AT SE END. (OCC. PETOLEUM LTD, POST TOPPLING SURVEY - PLAN AND PROFILE VIEWS). AMEND PLATFORM (DEST'D) IN 582800.1N, 001537.2E TO WK 86MTRS. - NM 2608/89. SHOW AS WK 86MTRS (ELONGATED DANGER CIRCLE) ON NC 244. N CARD, Q; S CARD, Q(6) + LFL 15S; E CARD, Q(3) 10S; & W CARD, Q(9) 15S AND 500MTR EXCLUSION ZONE RETAINED. HH254/440/01 20.11.89 NOW MARKED ONLY BY SPECIAL MARK BUOY LAID APPROX 100 MTRS NE OF WK. CHARACTERISTICS - FL(4) Y 15S, BELL, 'PIPER ALPHA'. 500MTR SAFETY ZONE REMAINS IN FORCE. (OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM LTD, TELEX 27.10.89). DELETE CARDINAL BUOYS. INS Y SPECIAL BUOY, FL(4) Y 15S, BELL, CLOSE NE OF WK. - NM 3389/89. HH254/440/03 16.4.91 BUOY NOW Y SPAR, FL(4) Y 15S, 'PIPER ALPHA, LAID IN 582804N, 001545E [EUR]. (OCCIDENTAL ABERDEEN, TLX DTD 8.3.91). AMEND BUOY. BR STD. HH160/350/02 23.5.91 BUOY NOW Y SPECIAL, FL(4) Y 15S, BELL, RARFL, 'OXY OME 1608'. (OXY MARINE CO-ORDINATOR (OFFSHORE), TLX DTD 19.5.91). NCA. HH254/440/04 15.5.92 BUOY REPOSITIONED IN 581804N, 001544E [EUR]. (MARINE COORDINATOR, EEC TLX DTD 12.5.92). NCA. HH254/440/04 9.11.92 FOLLOWING REPAIR BUOY REPOSITIONED IN 582801N, 001539.6E [OGB]. IDENTITY NOW 'OME 1608'. LT UNCHANGED. (ELF MARINE COORDINATOR, TLX DTD 1.11.92). AMEND BUOY POSN TO 582801N, 001539.5E AND IDENTITY TO 'OME'1608'. BR STD. HH254/400/02 16.8.96 BUOY REINSTATED IN 582803N, 111539E [EUR]. (C MARTIN, EECAL, ABERDEEN, TLX DTD 14.8.96). HH254/440/05 3.12.97 BUOY REDEPLOYED IN 582803N, 001539.5W [EUR]. (KINGFISHER BULLETIN 22/97). HH260/400/04 20.7.99 BUOY REINSTATED IN 5828.017N, 0015.587E [EUR]. (MRCC ABERDEEN, TLX DTD 13.7.99). NCA. |
| Last Amended Date | Jul 20, 1999 |
Circumstances of loss
6.7.88 PRODUCTION PLATFORM DESTROYED BY AN EXPLOSION 6.7.88. LEGS OF PLATFORM WERE CUT BY USE OF EXPLOSIVE CHARGES ON 28.3.89 ALLOWING THE UPPER PART TO COLLAPSE ONTO THE SEABED. (FOR FULL DETAILS SEE MSD).
WRECK MAP LOADING ...
58 27.962 N,0 15.52 E
Piper Alpha on Wreck Map
Piper Alpha Wreck on Google Map
Nearby Wrecks:
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- Other Wreck 4857 461.6 M
- Rubbish Wreck 4850 725.7 M
- Cables Chains Mooring Nets Tackle Wires Wreck 4849 1026 M
- Cables Chains Mooring Nets Tackle Wires Wreck 4844 1031.3 M
- Cables Chains Mooring Nets Tackle Wires Wreck 4865 4626.9 M
- Cables Chains Mooring Nets Tackle Wires Wreck 56353 6967.9 M
- Wooden Vessel Wreck 4864 8735.2 M
- G-Bdes Wreck 11633 M
- Westhaven Wreck 13723.4 M
General Comments
DESTROYED BY EXPLOSION, LATER TOPPLED