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February 19, 1982.
A former captain of the sunken oil drilling rig Ocean Ranger, who said three experienced control-room operators on the rig were replaced by Newfoundlanders without enough experience, may be asked to testify before a provincial inquiry into the disaster.
A spokesman for Premier Brian Peckford said yesterday Captain Carl Nehring may be asked to appear before the inquiry to answer questions into Monday's sinking of the Ocean Ranger off Newfoundland, claiming the lives of all 84 men aboard.
Captain Nehring, who quit as captain of the rig in January, said on Wednesday the rushing of Newfoundland residents into jobs related to offshore exploration may have contributed to the disaster.
The Newfoundland government has passed legislation that requires residents of the province must be given first access to offshore exploration jobs. The provincial spokesman would not comment on Captain Nehring's suggestion the Newfoundland workers were not fully experienced for the work.
Captain Nehring also said that U.S. Coast Guard inspectors found 200 deficiencies in the design, structure and maintenance of the rig months ago but nothing was done.