More than 100 workers are airlifted off a North Sea oil platform after ’emergency’ incident
- Coastguards were made aware of the incident at around 6.30pm on Monday
- Enquest owns the Thistle Platform 125 miles North East of Shetland
- Oil firm didn’t confirm nature of the incident but ‘initiated emergency response’
- 115 personnel were transferred by helicopter to other platforms in the area
More than 100 workers have been airlifted off a North Sea oil platform after an emergency yesterday evening.
The Thistle Platform, around 125 miles north east of Shetland, was evacuated on Monday after the coastguard was alerted at around 6.30pm.
Enquest, the oil company which owns the offshore drilling rig, said it had ‘proactively initiated emergency response procedures.’
The coastguard said that its helicopter and two Norwegian aircraft had transferred 115 personnel to other platforms in the area.
The coastguard said that its helicopter and two Norwegian aircraft had transferred 115 personnel to other platforms in the area (file photo)
The Thistle Platform, run by Enquest, is around 125 miles north east of Shetland
In a statement HM Coastguard said: ‘The Coastguard Rescue Helicopter based at Sumburgh in Shetland as well as two other aircraft from Norway transferred the personnel to other operating platforms in the area.
‘Due to poor weather conditions in the area, transfer by helicopter was the safest option.’
EnQuest would not comment on the nature of the incident.
A spokeswoman said: ‘EnQuest can confirm it has proactively initiated emergency response procedures at the Thistle Platform as a precautionary measure.’
She added: ‘Further information will be released as soon as it becomes available.’