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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| 'Serious' oil blaze extinguished | 'Serious' oil blaze extinguished |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A "very serious" fire on a North Sea platform with 159 people on board has been completely extinguished. | A "very serious" fire on a North Sea platform with 159 people on board has been completely extinguished. |
| A major rescue operation had earlier been launched to evacuate crew from the Thistle Alpha platform after smoke and flames were seen at 0830 BST. | A major rescue operation had earlier been launched to evacuate crew from the Thistle Alpha platform after smoke and flames were seen at 0830 BST. |
| Seven helicopters and an RAF Nimrod aircraft were scrambled to the scene and began carrying those on board to other platforms in the area. | Seven helicopters and an RAF Nimrod aircraft were scrambled to the scene and began carrying those on board to other platforms in the area. |
| The fire was extinguished by 1100 GMT. There are no reports of casualties. | The fire was extinguished by 1100 GMT. There are no reports of casualties. |
| The Thistle Alpha is 120 miles north east of Sumburgh in Shetland. | The Thistle Alpha is 120 miles north east of Sumburgh in Shetland. |
| About 116 crew members had been evacuated by 1100 GMT. They were understood to be returning to the rig after the blaze was put out. | About 116 crew members had been evacuated by 1100 GMT. They were understood to be returning to the rig after the blaze was put out. |
| By the sound of it the two Norwegian helicopters have managed to get to the platform itself Michael MulfordRAF Kinloss | By the sound of it the two Norwegian helicopters have managed to get to the platform itself Michael MulfordRAF Kinloss |
| A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said: "Firefighters on the platform have put out the fire. | A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said: "Firefighters on the platform have put out the fire. |
| "There are no injuries and they are going to put people back on." | "There are no injuries and they are going to put people back on." |
| She said the platform underwent inspections in May and earlier this month. It is not thought that any serious problems were found. | She said the platform underwent inspections in May and earlier this month. It is not thought that any serious problems were found. |
| Helicopters from the RAF, coastguard and other platforms in the area had earlier been sent to the scene along with two Norwegian helicopters. A Nimrod was also scrambled from RAF Kinloss to co-ordinate the operation. | Helicopters from the RAF, coastguard and other platforms in the area had earlier been sent to the scene along with two Norwegian helicopters. A Nimrod was also scrambled from RAF Kinloss to co-ordinate the operation. |
| The platform is operated by Swedish-based Lundin Petroleum, which is involved in oil exploration and production across the globe. | The platform is operated by Swedish-based Lundin Petroleum, which is involved in oil exploration and production across the globe. |
| Michael Mulford of RAF Kinloss said he believed the Norwegian helicopters, which were the first to arrive, had been able to land on the platform itself to pick up crew members. | Michael Mulford of RAF Kinloss said he believed the Norwegian helicopters, which were the first to arrive, had been able to land on the platform itself to pick up crew members. |
| He said it was "quite unusual" for a full evacuation to be ordered so quickly. | He said it was "quite unusual" for a full evacuation to be ordered so quickly. |
| Mr Mulford added: "Normally what they will try and do is take off non-essential staff first but they have gone for a fairly major airlift from the first moment." | Mr Mulford added: "Normally what they will try and do is take off non-essential staff first but they have gone for a fairly major airlift from the first moment." |
| He said the Thistle oil field was "just about as remote as it gets - about five or six miles inside the UK search and rescue region". | He said the Thistle oil field was "just about as remote as it gets - about five or six miles inside the UK search and rescue region". |
| Weather conditions in the area had been described as "not great", with strong north westerly winds and "reasonable" visibility. | Weather conditions in the area had been described as "not great", with strong north westerly winds and "reasonable" visibility. |
| 'Reasonable record' | |
| "Ideally you don't want people in the water itself. If they take to the rescue boats that is a different matter but by the sound of it the two Norwegian helicopters have managed to get to the platform itself," Mr Mulford said. | "Ideally you don't want people in the water itself. If they take to the rescue boats that is a different matter but by the sound of it the two Norwegian helicopters have managed to get to the platform itself," Mr Mulford said. |
| A spokeswoman for Petrofac, an international service provider to the oil and gas industry, said: "Petrofac as duty holders of the Thistle Alpha installation, on behalf of Lundin Britain Ltd, can confirm that it is currently investigating an incident involving this installation. | A spokeswoman for Petrofac, an international service provider to the oil and gas industry, said: "Petrofac as duty holders of the Thistle Alpha installation, on behalf of Lundin Britain Ltd, can confirm that it is currently investigating an incident involving this installation. |
| "As a precautionary measure the appropriate emergency procedures have been activated and the relevant authorities have been notified." | "As a precautionary measure the appropriate emergency procedures have been activated and the relevant authorities have been notified." |
| Jake Molloy, of the OILC union, told the BBC Scotland news website: "I have been trying to contact the guys but it's difficult. | |
| "The fact they were taken off by helicopter to local platforms suggests it was a precautionary measure. | |
| "The Thistle has a reasonable record over the last few years. There has been nothing major." |