Storm-force Gales Hit UK North Sea

A 4,500-tonne ship adrift in the North Sea has narrowly missed crashing into two gas platforms. The vessel, Vindo, broke down yesterday afternoon in bad weather and began drifting towards the Conoco Phillips operated Murdoch gas platform. Murdoch is located 75 miles off the Lincolnshire coast, near Theddlethorpe St Helen.

The crew managed to start the Vindo's engines just a mile away from the platform and avoid a collision. However, the Vindo lost power and began drifting towards the unmanned Caister platform. The ship, which has a cargo of 4,200 tonnes of fertiliser, missed the platform by just 700 yards.

The Vindo is now drifting in open sea and will be rescued by a tug boat and towed to a British port. The alarm was raised Thursday afternoon when the ship's engines failed in a force 10 gale.

The Murdoch crew were evacuated by RAF helicopter as a precaution and the platform which was shut down.

In a second incident, a dive support ship with 94 people on board was adrift about 155 miles northeast of Aberdeen in the North Sea as storm-force gales continue. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency have said the CSO Orelia is reported to have lost its main propulsion but for an unknown reason. All 94 occupants remained on board.

A massive wave was reported to have smashed a window on the vessel, flooding the boat's electrics. Aberdeen coastguards said a rescue boat was on its way to attempt to tow the CSO Orelia to safety.

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Posted 12/01/07

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