President Carter visits Statfjord A

Kristin Øye Gjerde, Norwegian Petroleum Museum

It is not every day that Norway gets a visit from an American president, but 4 May 1982 was one such occasion. That was when Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn took a trip out to Statfjord A, which was operated at the time by Mobil Exploration Norway Inc (Meni).

— Former US presidential couple Rosalyn and Jimmy Carter arrive on Statfjord A. Harold R Inman, then CEO in Meni, and wife Gloria are to the right. Offshore installation manager Roy L Johnsen gave the visitors a tour of the platform.

Since Carter served from 1977 to 1981, his visit occurred the year after he had left office.

JIMMY CARTER ON THE HELICOPTER HEADING FOR STATFJORD A. PHOTO: UNKNOWN/NPM

The visit was exciting and hectic, recalls Reidun Lending. She was responsible for getting Carter to sign the hard hat he wore for the occasion, which is now in the Norwegian Petroleum Museum. A secretary on the platform, she helped with the practical details of the visit. Her husband, Arne Lending, was head cook on Statfjord A and responsible for serving refreshments to the visitors.

SHOWING JIMMY CARTER AROUND THE PLATFORM. PHOTO: UNKNOWN/NPM.

Carter and his wife were only on Statfjord A for an hour, and everything was planned to the last minute. As offshore installation manager, Roy L Johnson was responsible for the presentation and tour. Personnel on board were not used to seeing members of the ex-president’s security detail carrying weapons.

Reidun took the opportunity to ask Carter to sign his hard hat as the presidential couple were preparing to depart and exchanging their overalls and headgear for survival suits. A pen with waterproof ink was to hand … and Carter smiled and signed.