The Alexander L. Kielland was a floating accommodation platform situated in the North Sea, supporting oil drilling operations. On March 27, 1980, the platform experienced a catastrophic structural failure while it was accommodating workers during operational activities. The platform was notably struck by severe weather conditions, including high winds and waves, which contributed to the collapse. As it tilted and ultimately went down, only 89 of the 212 crew members survived the incident, marking it as one of the deadliest offshore disasters in history.

In the aftermath of the disaster, extensive investigations were undertaken to assess the factors that could have contributed to the platform's failure. It was revealed that the design of the platform and its management lacked adequate attention to safety standards in volatile environments. This tragedy led to widespread scrutiny over the oil industry's regulatory frameworks and safety practices, pressing the need for reforms in offshore platform design and operations.

Families of the victims received compensation, and the disaster prompted improvements in safety regulations in the North Sea and beyond. It also instigated conversations on emergency preparedness and risk management in the oil industry, affecting policies at many levels. The events surrounding the collapse continued to impact the offshore oil sector for years, as operators took heed of the lessons learned from this calamity.