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Three dead after vessel capsizes Three dead after vessel capsizes
(30 minutes later)
Three men rescued from a capsized oil rig support vessel have died, while five more are missing in the North Sea. Three men rescued from a capsized oil rig support vessel in the North Sea have died, while rescue divers are continuing to search for five others.
It is feared the missing crew may be trapped inside the ship and rescue divers are at the scene. It is feared the missing crew members may be trapped inside the ship.
Rescue teams said 10 of the Norwegian crew had been recovered following the incident at 1700 BST, about 75 miles west of the Shetland coast.Rescue teams said 10 of the Norwegian crew had been recovered following the incident at 1700 BST, about 75 miles west of the Shetland coast.
Seven have been taken to hospital, but the owners of the ship, the Bourbon Dolphin, said three others had died.Seven have been taken to hospital, but the owners of the ship, the Bourbon Dolphin, said three others had died.
'Severe test' New ship
The ship, a new vessel, had been working in the vicinity of the Rosebank oilfield with a crew of 15. Searches by a coastguard helicopter have been stood down until first light but Royal Navy divers are continuing to search throughout the night.
BOURBON DOLPHIN Norwegian-registered tug supply vesselLength: 75.2mWidth: 17.0mMax draught: 6.5mDeadweight (max): 2,500 tGross/net tonnage: 2,974t/892tSpeed: 17.5 knots (trial)Capacity: 35 personnelBOURBON DOLPHIN Norwegian-registered tug supply vesselLength: 75.2mWidth: 17.0mMax draught: 6.5mDeadweight (max): 2,500 tGross/net tonnage: 2,974t/892tSpeed: 17.5 knots (trial)Capacity: 35 personnel
Source: Bourbon OffshoreSource: Bourbon Offshore
The ship, which is less than one year old, had been working in the vicinity of the Rosebank oilfield with a crew of 15.
Six navy divers were flown to the boat from Faslane on the Clyde.Six navy divers were flown to the boat from Faslane on the Clyde.
A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokeswoman said: "Shetland Coastguard have now stood down the rescue helicopters.
"They will resume the search for the remaining five crewmen again at first light, however the Search and Rescue operation will be changed to a Search and Recovery operation.
"A naval diving unit has been flown to the Transocean Rather platform and divers will be assisting in the continuing search throughout the night.
"All non-essential personnel were down-manned from the Transocean Rather platform as there is a very minimal risk that the capsized vessel could potentially damage the platform."
Two helicopters have been involved in the search west of the Shetlands
Trond Myklebust, manager director of Bourbon Norway which owns the ship, said: "There are divers at the scene and they have heat seeking cameras and there are also diving support vessels at the location.
"It is still an ongoing operation."
'Severe test'
RAF spokesman Michael Mulford had earlier told the BBC it would be a "severe test" for the divers.RAF spokesman Michael Mulford had earlier told the BBC it would be a "severe test" for the divers.
"Five are believed to be still inside the upturned hull," he said. "If there is any possibility that these people are in there and alive this will be their one chance of getting out," he said.
"If there is any possibility that these people are in there and alive this will be their one chance of getting out."
Mr Mulford told the BBC: "What we know is that a rig support vessel, while moving away from the rig, has capsized.
"A Nimrod which was flying over the Irish Sea training has been diverted to aid in the search.""A Nimrod which was flying over the Irish Sea training has been diverted to aid in the search."
Mr Mulford said Shetland coastguard scrambled its helicopter and a second North Sea helicopter was also dispatched. Rig operator Transocean released a statement which said: "A muster on board the Transocean Rather has been completed and all 99 crew members of the rig are accounted for.
The coastguard has appealed for help from vessels in the area. "As a precautionary measure, Transocean has taken the decision to down-man the rig of any non-essential personnel.
Mark Clark, of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said: "At the moment we've got a mayday signal out, with an emergency signal out with all shipping in the area. "Coastguard helicopters are assisting in the down-manning of the rig. There is no report of any damage to the Transocean Rather."
Two helicopters are involved in the search west of the Shetland Islands Grampian Police incident commander, Superintendent Bill Archibald, said: "Once the search and rescue phase has been completed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, who have primacy in that role, Grampian Police will... continue investigation in respect of this incident."
"Anybody with diving support crews, dive equipment can get on the scene for us as quickly as possible.
"We're still searching and of course the difficult situation for everybody is if they are still strapped inside the hull. And therefore we need to get to them as quickly as possible."
Neville Davis, rescue co-ordination centre manager, Shetland Coastguard, added: "So far 10 persons have been recovered. We will continue working with the assets available to us to try and locate the missing crew."
The Bourbon Dolphin had a number of roles in the North Sea, including anchor handling and towing, the installation of subsea construction blocks and operations involving remote vehicles.The Bourbon Dolphin had a number of roles in the North Sea, including anchor handling and towing, the installation of subsea construction blocks and operations involving remote vehicles.
A spokesman for Bourbon Offshore said: "People have been rescued but there are still some people missing and there is a rescue operation under way."
A statement from rig operators Transocean said: "At 5.20pm today, the Bourbon Dolphin, an anchor handling tug supply vessel owned by Bourbon Offshore, capsized while handling anchor two of the semi-submersible drilling rig Transocean Rather.
"Two nearby vessels are providing assistance, and two helicopters have been mobilised from Sumburgh in support of rescue operations."