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Ship Drifting Towards Gas Rig In North Sea

Seadog

Seadog

War Hero
Moderator
BBC News

A 4,500-tonne cargo ship is adrift without power in the North Sea and heading towards a gas platform.
Two RAF helicopters have been scrambled from Wattisham and Leconfield to airlift 20 people from the Murdoch rid 80 miles went of Flamborough Head.

Helicopters are ready to evacuate the rest of the crew from the ship if its engines can not be repaired in time.
Click to expand...

Not really the weather for helo ops. Fingers crossed.
 
Seadog said:
BBC News

A 4,500-tonne cargo ship is adrift without power in the North Sea and heading towards a gas platform.
Two RAF helicopters have been scrambled from Wattisham and Leconfield to airlift 20 people from the Murdoch rid 80 miles went of Flamborough Head.

Helicopters are ready to evacuate the rest of the crew from the ship if its engines can not be repaired in time.
Click to expand...

Not really the weather for helo ops. Fingers crossed.
Click to expand...

Are we saying that in an active gas/oil field there is not a single support vessel/tug nearby to tow said ship and claim salvage. Let us at least be grateful that no RN Ship is nearby cos they would not have anybody aboard who would know how to set out and use towing gear now that Seamanship is dead.

Nutty
 
Are we saying that in an active gas/oil field there is not a single support vessel/tug nearby to tow said ship and claim salvage
Click to expand...

Salvage isn't that simple Nutty. Ship masters ask 'to be salvaged'. It isn't up to passing ships to send a boarding party (if only to get a signature) and take over. Towing, especially by a standby (picket/rescue) vessel may not count as salvage. It may be able to keep the vessel on station until an MCA tug can tow the stricken vessel in. Or the crew may get the engines going again.

Let's hope no one is killed or injured in whatever solution is used.
 
Just said on the news that it's carrying fertilizer!! Handy cargo to be carrying as you drift towards a gas platform!!! 8O
 
MY BEST WISHES GO TO THE OIL RIG CREWS,THE SHIP CREWS AND THE AIR CREW FLYING TO RESCUE THEM.

I HOPE THE CRABS CAN SEE IN THE DARK?

GRUFF
 
Looks like yet another ship's captain or owner waiting too long before asking for a tow
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What evidence is there for that mophead? Looks like the world descended on his position so he must have communicated his difficulty to the outside world early on. The priority for the rig standby vessel when helos are operating on the rig is 'crash boat' not tug. Proper tugs need time to get to its position and it is reasonable to give the engineers time to get the engine(s) going. And the weather isn't the best for passing a line.

According to telly news this morning the vessel missed the rig by four cables.
 
These days most of the rig standby vessels are ex fishing boats, probably nt the best to tow a 4500 ton ship unlike the anchor handling barges that used to do the job in the past which would have been capable.

BBC reports a tug was supposed to R/V at 0900. Also that they have retarted the engines at least once
 
Interesting,i wonder if its the same Skipper there now that was there last year?Apparently according to the BBC news Website he hit a ship last year in the Channel.
 
In the days when we had a fleet, I'm sure we could have sent some help. Progress is great.
 
noemis said:
Just said on the news that it's carrying fertilizer!! Handy cargo to be carrying as you drift towards a gas platform!!! 8O
Click to expand...

Must be going to Leeds! Looked a little big to be going up the river aire though!
 
sorry Seadog Salvage is that easy! Under the 'Lloyd's open form' known as the 'no cure no pay' all the salvor has to do is ask the master (skippers are on fishing boats or sardine tins) if he agrees to the Lloyds open form being used, (then he has to get a line onboard) - then it's his IF he can salvage the bloody thing! there are clauses that say ships crew's cannot salvage their OWN ship [unless they've left it on instructions from the master, and returned without his instructions] Now a towage contract is another kettle of fish! the towage contract is the usual one to go for! It's cheaper if successful (not so if it ain't). The other problem is rigging the towing line - in weather like that it ain't easy, and if the master of the tug bashes his own vessel up in the process he's in deep poo! Pusser used to rain to that standard (probably still do, but they don't tell many about it - do you still do a 'board and tow' of the FOST tanker during workup?)
 
Did I not cover the points you made safewalrus? Needs agreement, a signature, needs to board to get a signature etc. Needs a capable ship in the area.

I take your point on a towage contract.
 

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