Three Offshore Supply Workers Rescued After Falling From Rescue Boat

Three crewmen from an oil supply vessel were airlifted to safety after falling out of a rescue boat in the North Sea.

The crewmen were conducting a routine launch of the fast rescue crash. Despite calm conditions, the men plummeted in the frigid waters of the North Sea from their rescue boat and were luckily recovered by their fellow crewmembers. Doctors advised that the men be flown out to be checked by medical staff in Lerwick.

The men were working on the large platform supply vessel Enea in the Tern field, around 100 miles northeast of Shetland. When the men were recovered, the platform crew contacted the Shetland Coast Guard who subsequently launched a helicopter rescue and winched the men aboard.

STV reported that the Friedie Manson, the helicopter winchman, confirmed they were tasked by the Shetland Coast Guard to attend to the Enea standby vessel. He added that while three people had been submerged, only one of the men was in serious condition. The other two were stable and able to walk, while the other was wheeled to medical attention on a stretcher. BBC reported that the two able-bodied men were discharged from the hospital, and the third has been detained for treatment.

The Tern field is operated by the Abu Dhabi National Energy company, TAQA Bratani. The Enea is UK-registered and owned by Aberdeen-based Portosalvo Ltd.