However, delays in the release of information have damaged perceptions of the UK industry, which has touted itself as a world leader in environmental and safety regulation.
This is unfortunate and regrettable, particularly because the industry has indeed attained much of which it can be proud since the 1988 Piper Alpha tragedy.
The Gannet Alpha spill shows that Shell and, to be fair, probably most other oil companies still have much to learn about keeping the public informed.
