Oil fence turns 50

10 June 2022

Norwegian oil spill fence turns 50 years. The Museum of the Norwegian Costal Administration marks this with sailing along the Norwegian coast this summer. On 21 June the boat Gamle Oksøy visits Sortland.

In 1969, large quantities of oil were found under the seabed off the Norwegian coast. With this, a state oil spill preparedness was also needed.

In 2022, it is 50 years since the modern oil protection in Norway saw the light of day.

The humble beginnings

In 1972, The Main Oil Spill Service opened in Horten. This is regarded as the start of oil spill preparedness in Norway. Development of the North Sea oil industry meant that the authorities had to invest more in emergency preparedness against oil spills.

At that time, the oil spill protection equipment consisted of 350 meters of drains, some pumping equipment, a tractor, some cars, a caravan and a small wading boat – and nine people worked at the Main Station.

Celebrated with sailing

On 8 June, the 50th anniversary celebrations started with a voyage that will run along the entire Norwegian coast. Through June, the boat Gamle Oksøy will stop in Horten, Langesund, Kristiansand, Stavanger, Bergen, Ålesund, Sandnessjøen, Sortland and Tromsø, before the Norwegian Coastal Administration’s own OV Bøkfjord takes over to Honningsvåg, where the voyage ends.

Sortland:

Visit the The Museum of the Norwegian Costal Administration website for updates on the voyage.

Happy celabration of Norwegian oil fence turns 50!

More News

Nordland Seminar 2023

On 15 and 16 March, the Nordland Seminar 2023 took place in Hamarøy. This year’s organizers were Nordlandsmuseet in collaboration with Árran – Julevsáme guovdásj / Lule Sami Center. The seminar was divided in two, with the first day at Árran on Drag, and day two at the Hamsun Centre at Presteid.

GaiaVesterålen started collecting the story of Vesterålen 

Four out of five workshops for the local population have now been conducted to collect the story of Vesterålen. How will the work continue in the future?

Phone photo workshop at Sortland

Phone photo workshop in Sortland: Several eager colleagues showed up to learn how best to use the mobile for photography