A virtual remembrance service next week will mark 12 years since the fatal super puma helicopter crash off Peterhead in 2009.
The Oil and Gas Chaplaincy typically holds a remembrance at Johnston Gardens in Aberdeen to mark the anniversary on April 1, however this is once again not possible due to Covid restrictions.
A total of 16 men lost their lives when the Bond-operated Super Puma came down on April 1, 2009, around 12 miles from Peterhead, on its way back from the BP Miller field in the North Sea.
On the same day, a crewman of the Wellservicer dive support vessel was lost his life in a crush incident around three miles southeast of Aberdeen.
As with last year, Reverand Gordon Craig will again hold a remembrance service virtually.
The Chaplaincy said: “On the 1st of April 2009 a Super Puma helicopter came down about 11 miles from Peterhead while returning from BP’s Miller Production Platform. Sixteen people died. On the same day, in a separate incident a crewman of DSV Wellservicer also died.
“Every year since, family members, friends and colleagues of those lost have gathered at the memorial set in Johnston Gardens Aberdeen to remember. As they are unable to physically come together again this year we will be recording a short Act of Remembrance at the memorial and a link to this will be placed on this page at 1000 on 1 Apr.”
Investigators pointed to catastrophic gearbox failure as the probable cause of the accident in 2009.
The Super Puma helicopter model is no longer is service in the North Sea.