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Ship drifts towards North Sea rig Drifting ship avoids hitting rig
(30 minutes later)
A 4,500-tonne cargo ship is adrift without power in the North Sea and heading towards a gas platform. Engines on a 4,500-tonne cargo ship adrift in the North Sea were briefly repaired to allow the crew to avoid a gas platform it was heading for.
Two RAF helicopters were scrambled from Wattisham and Leconfield to airlift 20 people from the Murdoch rig 80 miles east of Flamborough Head. However, the engines failed again and the ship is now drifting towards an unmanned platform, coastguards said.
Helicopters are ready to evacuate the rest of the crew from the ship if its engines cannot be repaired in time. They said the ship - the Vindo - was a mile from the manned platform when its engines were temporarily repaired.
Humber Coastguard said the ship - called the Vindo - broke down nine miles (14km) from the platform. Two RAF helicopters were scrambled to airlift workers off the Murdoch rig, 80 miles east of Flamborough Head.
The ship has nine crew on board and is carrying 4,200 tonnes of fertiliser. A Humber Coastguard spokesman confirmed the Vindo was on course to collide with a second platform.
Mayday signalMayday signal
Its drift was slowed by lowering its anchor, but the coastguard said the rescue operation was "too close for comfort". "About a mile from the platform the Vindo got its engine started and managed to navigate the platform," he said.
It is hoped the ship's crew will be able to restore power. If they are unable to it is possible the ship will collide with the platform between 2300 and 0000 GMT. "Unfortunately its engine failed again and it is drifting towards an unmanned platform."
The Vindo originally broke down nine miles (14km) from the platform.
It has nine crew on board and is carrying 4,200 tonnes of fertiliser.
A spokesman said the people evacuated from the gas platform, which is owned by ConocoPhillips, had been taken to nearby rigs and were out of any potential danger.A spokesman said the people evacuated from the gas platform, which is owned by ConocoPhillips, had been taken to nearby rigs and were out of any potential danger.
He added: "Humber Coastguard have also initiated a Mayday signal locally to alert other vessels to the situation and who may be able to assist the Vindo.He added: "Humber Coastguard have also initiated a Mayday signal locally to alert other vessels to the situation and who may be able to assist the Vindo.
Previous incident
"Winds locally are passing 55 knots - classed as storm force 10 - making conditions very difficult.""Winds locally are passing 55 knots - classed as storm force 10 - making conditions very difficult."
In September last year the 90m-long Vindo crashed into another large cargo vessel, Dealer, after failing to respond to radio messages.In September last year the 90m-long Vindo crashed into another large cargo vessel, Dealer, after failing to respond to radio messages.
Nobody was injured in the incident, which took place 17 miles off the coast of North Foreland, Kent.Nobody was injured in the incident, which took place 17 miles off the coast of North Foreland, Kent.
Dover Coastguard said no pollution had occurred but both vessels had sustained some damage in the collision.Dover Coastguard said no pollution had occurred but both vessels had sustained some damage in the collision.