March 6, 2014
Honouring Victims of Offshore Helicopter Tragedies
Update Provided on Offshore Helicopter Accident Memorial
Construction of the Offshore Helicopter Accident Memorial is underway, with completion and unveiling of the sculpture anticipated by late summer. The artist's rendering of the memorial was unveiled in October 2013 at the memorial's future site at Quidi Vidi Lake.
“Our government made a commitment to the families and friends of the victims of these accidents that their memories would be honoured with a fitting memorial. We feel the Luben Boykov and Frederick Hann design chosen several months ago will achieve this goal, as it incorporates a number of elements to help enshrine the memories of these individuals who tragically lost their lives. The construction of the monument is well underway, and we look forward to its completion and unveiling.”
- The Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
Six offshore oil industry workers died when a Universal helicopter crashed after leaving the Bow Drill oil rig in Placentia Bay on March 13, 1985. On March 12, 2009, Cougar 491 crashed while en route to the SeaRose FPSO in the White Rose oil field and Hibernia Platform in the Hibernia oilfield, killing 17 of the 18 passengers.
The helicopter accident memorial was chosen through competition by a committee of family members and representatives from the Provincial Government, industry, labour and the arts community. Its design includes a spiraling stainless steel sculpture at its centre, representative of the aerial screw prototype of the first rotary-type flying machine envisioned by Leonardo da Vinci in the late 15th century. Along the spiral of the aerial screw, the names of the 23 victims of both helicopter tragedies will be cut into the stainless steel.
The construction of a steel mock-up of the sculpture will be completed within the coming weeks, with fabrication of the actual memorial beginning shortly thereafter.
QUICK FACTS
- Construction of the Offshore Helicopter Accident Memorial is underway, with completion and installation anticipated in late summer.
- The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador allocated $400,000 for the establishment of the memorial.
- An additional $90,000 for the memorial was provided by the offshore oil industry.
- The City of St. John’s partnered with the province and provided the land for the monument and will support its ongoing maintenance once constructed.
- The memorial is representative of the aerial screw prototype of the first rotary-type flying machine envisioned by Leonardo da Vinci in the late 15th century.
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Media contact:
Melony O'Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928; 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca
2014 03 06 1:10 p.m.