Floating crippled tanker threatens North Sea Gas Platform

Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press release in full

Press Notice No: Duty 2
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Posted 23:03 GMT CARGO VESSEL NOW DRIFTING TOWARDS SECOND GAS PLATFORMThe cargo vessel which has been drifting towards a gas platform in the North Sea has cleared the rig. The vessel, Vindo, managed to start its engines temporarily and slipped its anchor so that there was no damage to gas pipelines. However, the vessel is now drifting towards another Conoco Philips unmanned platform, Caister. Capacity of 80 billion standard cubic feet of gas, Located 75 miles (120 kilometres) northeast of Theddlethorpe St. Helen, Lincolnshire.(Specification)

Humber Coastguard scrambled an RAF helicopter to the scene a short while ago, and it is now standing by in case of need.

Although the ship has now drifted clear of the original platform, the problem still remains since it is now drifting towards a second platform with the ships nine crew on board. The crew of the vessel are still working hard to reinstate engine power.

Earlier this evening, all thirty of the Murdoch Platforms crew were evacuated by helicopter. There is no intention to begin re-manning the platform until morning.

Weather conditions are challenging with 50 knot winds from the west and a seven metre swell.

UK energy supplies are not only threatened by Russian Governments, Muslim jihadist extremist IslamoFascists and Greenpeace.