Charges Dropped On North Sea Alert Woman

A woman charged after a security alert at an oil platform in the North Sea will not face trial.

A total of 161 staff were airlifted from the Safe Scandinavia platform, 130 miles of the Aberdeen coast, during the security scare in February.

Thirteen helicopters including five deployed by the RAF were involved in the operation, along with coastguard aircraft.

It is understood the Dana Rosu, of Romanian origin, had been working aboard the installation and was detained by the offshore installation manager.

She was initially charged after allegations of a "possible suspicious device".

A total of 539 people had been onboard the Safe Scandinavia which is an accommodation installation attached by a bridge to an oil rig in the Britannia field.

It is understood that the cost of the rescue operation was more than £500,000.

Ms Rosu made no plea during a previous appearance at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and had been remanded to the city's Cornhill psychiatric hospital for assessment.

She was released on bail after handing in her passport in March.

A spokeswoman for the Procurator Fiscal in Aberdeen said there would be "no proceedings".

Kathy McGill, Britannia Operator Ltd's Managing Director said after the alert that she was "very relieved" that it had turned out to be a "false alarm".

"We obviously had to treat it seriously and act appropriately to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all our people," she said.

See: Woman Due In Court Over Oil Rig Bomb Hoax

(DS)