This book published in 2014 is an English version of the book “Nordsjødykkerne”, published in Norwegian in 2009.
“On the edge, under water” documents offshore diving and the pioneer divers on the Norwegian continental shelf. Historians Kristin Øye Gjerde and Helge Ryggvik have sought to provide a nuanced and broad-based historical presentation, which carries the story from the start of oil exploration on the NCS down to the present day. Divers in the North Sea have been key players in developing the Norwegian oil industry. They helped to establish a new and unknown industry, which presented substantial challenges and the need to move boundaries. The authors write about the divers and their work, technological development and research, the diving companies, unionisation and government regulation. They provide an insight into a tough and risky profession, where accidents and tragedies have made their mark.

Contents:

Foreword

Chapter 1: Diving and oil exploration

Chapter 2: New challenges on Ekofisk and Frigg

Chapter 3: How special were the North Sea divers?

Chapter 4: Accidents and regulations

Chapter 5: Condeep diving

Chapter 6: In deeper waters

Chapter 7: The Alexander L Kielland disaster

Chapter 8: Safety and responsibility

Chapter 9: Controversial research dives

Chapter 10: What is the limit?

Chapter 11: Subsea technology replaces the divers

Chapter 12: National protectionism, globalisation and a new deal

Chapter 13: The diver issue