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| Hi-tech boat 'crucial' in rescue | Hi-tech boat 'crucial' in rescue |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A state-of-the-art rescue boat which played a crucial role in pulling 15 oil workers to safety in the North Sea was on its first "real life" mission. | A state-of-the-art rescue boat which played a crucial role in pulling 15 oil workers to safety in the North Sea was on its first "real life" mission. |
| Those involved in designing the autonomous rescue and recovery craft (ARRC) have hailed it a huge success. | Those involved in designing the autonomous rescue and recovery craft (ARRC) have hailed it a huge success. |
| The vessel was commissioned by BP as part of a programme of measures aimed at improving safety in the North Sea. | |
| It picked up 15 of the 18 people who ended up in the water after a Super Puma came down on Wednesday evening. | It picked up 15 of the 18 people who ended up in the water after a Super Puma came down on Wednesday evening. |
| The designers now hope other offshore oil companies and coastguard rescue teams will consider using the ARRCs. | The designers now hope other offshore oil companies and coastguard rescue teams will consider using the ARRCs. |
| Dr David Mills, an occupational physician specialising in hostile environments, was part of the team which developed the rescue craft. | Dr David Mills, an occupational physician specialising in hostile environments, was part of the team which developed the rescue craft. |
| He told the BBC Scotland news website: "It was very exciting for us to see the boat deployed 'for real' for the first time, and see it successfully rescue multiple people from the water. | He told the BBC Scotland news website: "It was very exciting for us to see the boat deployed 'for real' for the first time, and see it successfully rescue multiple people from the water. |
| This is the first time that the search and rescue helicopter and ARRC have been used together to assist in recovery of people from the water following a helicopter ditching BP Spokeswoman "A host of factors contributed to the success of the rescue operation on Wednesday night but the ARRC played an very important role." | This is the first time that the search and rescue helicopter and ARRC have been used together to assist in recovery of people from the water following a helicopter ditching BP Spokeswoman "A host of factors contributed to the success of the rescue operation on Wednesday night but the ARRC played an very important role." |
| The rescue craft has a maximum speed of 35 knots, fly-by-wire technology on the bridge, a helicopter winching zone, a collapsible side at the back to pull survivors aboard and two 1100 hp jets to power it. | The rescue craft has a maximum speed of 35 knots, fly-by-wire technology on the bridge, a helicopter winching zone, a collapsible side at the back to pull survivors aboard and two 1100 hp jets to power it. |
| The boats form part of Project Jigsaw, a £135m programme of investment by BP aimed at creating an improved regional search, rescue and recovery network in the North Sea. | The boats form part of Project Jigsaw, a £135m programme of investment by BP aimed at creating an improved regional search, rescue and recovery network in the North Sea. |
| Sea tests | Sea tests |
| A spokeswoman for the oil company said: "This is the first time that the search and rescue helicopter and ARRC have been used together to assist in recovery of people from the water following a helicopter ditching. | A spokeswoman for the oil company said: "This is the first time that the search and rescue helicopter and ARRC have been used together to assist in recovery of people from the water following a helicopter ditching. |
| "We believe the combination of both marine and aviation provides improved capability for offshore search, rescue and recovery over a wider range of weather and sea state conditions." | "We believe the combination of both marine and aviation provides improved capability for offshore search, rescue and recovery over a wider range of weather and sea state conditions." |
| Dr Mills was involved in a four-year effort to develop the ARRC and carried out tests on the medical facilities on board.The ARRC picked up 15 survivors who were then brought to Aberdeen | Dr Mills was involved in a four-year effort to develop the ARRC and carried out tests on the medical facilities on board.The ARRC picked up 15 survivors who were then brought to Aberdeen |
| He said: "I know this boat very well. I was involved in testing the medical suite. | He said: "I know this boat very well. I was involved in testing the medical suite. |
| "It has an advanced sick bay with capacity for two seriously injured casualties and about 20 other survivors. | "It has an advanced sick bay with capacity for two seriously injured casualties and about 20 other survivors. |
| "We tested it using simulation technology then spent three weeks in the English Channel testing it in various sea conditions". | "We tested it using simulation technology then spent three weeks in the English Channel testing it in various sea conditions". |
| He added: "It was great to see it work so well and really deliver in locating the people and getting them very quickly out of the water. | He added: "It was great to see it work so well and really deliver in locating the people and getting them very quickly out of the water. |
| Dr Mills said other offshore platform operators may now show an interest in the state-of-the art boats. | Dr Mills said other offshore platform operators may now show an interest in the state-of-the art boats. |
| He said: "This search and rescue system is new and very different. I think a lot of people will be looking at how it works. | He said: "This search and rescue system is new and very different. I think a lot of people will be looking at how it works. |
| "Its performance on Wednesday will be eagerly reviewed by the offshore industry." | "Its performance on Wednesday will be eagerly reviewed by the offshore industry." |