12/01/2007

Freighter taken in tow

A cargo vessel drifiting in gales in the North sea without power since yesterday has missed a gas platform.

The 4,500 tonne vessel Vindo has now been taken in tow by a tug and is being towed to the Humber estuary.

The cargo vessel's nine-man crew managed to start its engines temporarily, however, the vessel was drifting towards another unmanned gas production platform, Caister.

On Thursday evening, as a precaution, 30 people on the Murdoch Platform were evacuated by helicopter.

Weather conditions have moderated a little since yesterday when 50 knot westerly winds threatened to sweep the Vindo into the platform.

According to the Coastguard, the ship missed the platform by around 700 yards.

Elswhere in the North Sea, three vessels are rendering assistance to a dive support vessel which has lost its main propulsion in the North Sea.

The Balmoral offshore installation called Aberdeen Coastguard to report that the vessel 'CSO Orelia' had lost power 115 miles east north east of Aberdeen with 94 people on board and was drifting approximately three miles from offshore installations.

The Coastguard said that the vessel had drifted past the Alba and Brittania installations and was heading in an easterly direction, and should pass to the north of the Andrew platform.

(SP/KMcA)

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