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Drifting ship avoids hitting rig Drifting ship avoids hitting rigs
(about 2 hours later)
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 major collisions by a drifting 4,500-tonne cargo with engine failure and North Sea gas platforms have been narrowly averted.
However, the engines failed again and the ship is now drifting towards an unmanned platform, coastguards said. The Vindo avoided the second rig by 700 yds (630m), the coastguard said.
An RAF helicopter has been scrambled to the scene on emergency standby as the ship drifts towards the second rig, some 80 miles east of Flamborough Head. It was put on the collision course with the unmanned Caister platform - off the Lincolnshire coast - after its engines failed for a second time.
All crew on the manned Murdoch rig were earlier airlifted to other rigs. Earlier the vessel avoided hitting the manned Murdoch rig after its engines were briefly repaired.
The ship - the Vindo - was a mile from platform when its engines were temporarily repaired. Carrying 4,200 tonnes of fertiliser, the Vindo originally broke down in bad weather, nine miles (14km) from the Murdoch platform.
But coastguard watch manager Mike Green confirmed the Vindo was on course to collide with a second platform. Two RAF helicopters had been scrambled to the rig - about 75 miles east of Theddlethorpe St Helen - to airlift 30 crew members to other rigs for safety.
'Challenging conditions' Situation 'calmed'
"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 ship's nine crew on board," he said. The ship, registered in Antigua and Barbuda, is still drifting without engines, but is expected to be met by a salvage tug at about 0900 GMT on Friday, which will tow it to dock in the Humber estuary.
"The crew of the vessel are still working hard to reinstate engine power." A coastguard spokesman confirmed there were no further platforms in the path of the Vindo, but another tug remained on standby in the area.
The Vindo - carrying 4,200 tonnes of fertiliser - originally broke down nine miles (14km) from the platform. "The situation has calmed down a little bit," he said.
"There is no intention to begin remanning the (Murdoch) platform until morning," said Mr Green. However, weather conditions in the North Sea remain poor and winds around the Vindo have been measured at Force 10.
"Weather conditions are challenging with 50 knot winds from the west and a seven metre swell."
Previous incident
Humber Coastguard has initiated a Mayday signal locally to alert other vessels in the area that might be able to assist the Vindo.
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.