The Canadian Press has published an article marking the 30th anniversary of Canada’s worst offshore oil disaster – the Ocean Ranger. The article sees the tragedy through the eyes of Ray Hawco, a man who was in line on Feb. 14, 1982 to board what turned out to be the last chopper headed for the doomed Ocean Ranger drilling rig off Newfoundland. In an act of kindness, Hawco gave his spot up on the flight to allow for a full welding team to take his place. That twist of fate “was a source of torment” that Hawco still thinks about. Read the full article here. For Hawco, the Ocean Ranger carries an enduring lesson: “No matter what technology we have, it’s not going to overcome nature.”
