North Sea rig evacuated after supply boat crash

Offshore workers have been evacuated from a rig off the coast of Aberdeen after a crash with a supply vessel.

Harbour Energy said that 52 “non-essential personnel” had been taken off its Valaris 120 installation, about 150 miles east of Aberdeen

The firm said there were 128 people on the jackup rig before the collision, which happened at about 22:20 on Sunday, but everyone was “safe and well”.

Valaris 120 is working in a combined operation with the Judy platform, which is involved in gas production and processing.

A Harbour Energy spokesperson said: “The non-essential personnel have been flown to Aberdeen on three separate flights.

“Our incident response teams have been mobilised and are in liaison with the relevant authorities.

“People are our priority, and everyone onboard the rig and the vessel is safe and well.”

Harbour Energy later added that there has been no impact on production.

Valaris 120 is a jackup rig – a platform that can lower its legs to the sea bottom to provide a stable base over the surface of the water.