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Relatives of missing crew fly in Divers find 'no sign' of crewmen
(about 3 hours later)
The families of eight crewmen killed or feared dead after a Norwegian anchor handling tug capsized in the Atlantic are due to arrive on Shetland. Four men and a boy are missing, presumed dead, after a Norwegian anchor handling tug capsized in the Atlantic.
A 15-year-old boy on work experience with the Bourbon Dolphin and his father are among five still unaccounted for. A coastguard spokesman said it was now "extremely unlikely" that they would be found alive.
Ten crew members were found after Thursday's incident, about 86 miles west of the Shetland coast. Seven were in hospital, but three others died. Royal Navy divers entered the submerged vessel three times on Friday afternoon but found no signs of life. They were forced to withdraw amid rough seas.
The mother of one survivor has described how he jumped from the boat. Seven of the 15 Bourbon Dolphin crew are in hospital while three have been confirmed dead.
Staff from vessel owners Bourbon Norway were also travelling on the chartered flight from Norway. Among those still unaccounted for is a 15-year-old boy on work experience and his father, believed to be the ship's captain.
We are not really expecting to find survivors now Coastguard spokeswoman class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/north_east/6551797.stm">Anchor 'may be to blame' class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6551583.stm">Human cost of oil and gas class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/north_east/6552467.stm">Timeline: Atlantic tug tragedy Neville Davis, of Shetland Coastguard, said: "After an intensive search we must now accept that despite tremendous efforts from all rescue units involved it is extremely unlikely that the five missing crew will be found alive and our sympathies are with the families of the crew at this time.
The families of the crew had stayed overnight in the firm's offices where they were counselled by a priest. "We would like to thank all the rescue units and vessels involved in this operation who have made every effort possible and thankfully did bring seven survivors to safety."
It is extremely unlikely that the five missing crew will be found alive Neville DavisShetland Coastguard Anchor 'may be to blame' Human cost of oil and gas Timeline: Atlantic tug tragedy
The operation around the upturned Bourbon Dolphin has now switched focus to the salvage of the vessel, which currently remains afloat.
Ten crew members in total were found in the seas around the vessel after Thursday's incident, about 86 miles west of the Shetland coast.
The mother of one survivor described how he jumped from the boat as it began to flip over.
Turge Drage said her son, Egil Hafsas, had called her from Lerwick to say how he and two other crew members managed to pull on life jackets and leap into the cold sea before being picked up by another ship and airlifted to Shetland.
Families of the crewmen, all Norwegian, were expected to arrive in Shetland later.
They had stayed overnight in the firm's offices where they were counselled by a priest.
A service was held for them on Friday morning before they began the journey to Scotland.A service was held for them on Friday morning before they began the journey to Scotland.
The air and sea rescue operation, which started after the incident at about 1750 BST on Thursday, resumed at first light on Friday.
The running of the rescue operation has now been shifted, with response teams focusing instead on "salvage and recovery".
BOURBON DOLPHIN Norwegian-registered tug supply vesselLength: 75.2mWidth: 17.0mMax draught: 6.5mDeadweight (max): 2,500 tGross/net tonnage: 2,974t/892tSpeed: 17.5 knots (trial)Capacity: 35 personnel Source: Bourbon OffshoreBOURBON DOLPHIN Norwegian-registered tug supply vesselLength: 75.2mWidth: 17.0mMax draught: 6.5mDeadweight (max): 2,500 tGross/net tonnage: 2,974t/892tSpeed: 17.5 knots (trial)Capacity: 35 personnel Source: Bourbon Offshore
The coastguard has said it would be a "miracle" if the five missing crew members were found alive.
Richard Crowther, regional operations manager for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said a decision had still to be made on whether it was safe for a Royal Navy diving team to enter the ship to search for the missing men.
The divers, from the Faslane naval base on the Clyde, have sent down a remotely operated vehicle to take underwater pictures of the upturned vessel.
Mr Crowther said: "The main risk for anyone going into a vessel like this is the uncertainty of how stable it is.
"There is no guarantee the five people who are missing are actually in the vessel. To put divers into an upturned vessel that could sink at any moment is very risky and dangerous."
Winds were heavier than they had been on Thursday evening, but conditions were still said to be "favourable" for the operation.
Sea leap
Meanwhile, the mother of one of the survivors told Norwegian radio station NRK that her son had been forced to jump off the ship as it began to flip over.
Turge Drage said her son, Egil Hafsas, had called her from Lerwick to tell how he and two other crew members managed to pull on life jackets and leap into the cold sea before being picked up by another ship and airlifted to Shetland.
Two helicopters have been involved in the search west of the Shetlands
An offshore union leader has said he believed the boat, which is less than one year old, could have been caused to capsize by an anchor slipping up the side of the vessel.An offshore union leader has said he believed the boat, which is less than one year old, could have been caused to capsize by an anchor slipping up the side of the vessel.
The Bourbon Dolphin had a number of roles in the North Sea, including anchor handling and towing, the installation of subsea construction blocks and operations involving remote vehicles.The Bourbon Dolphin had a number of roles in the North Sea, including anchor handling and towing, the installation of subsea construction blocks and operations involving remote vehicles.
Anchor handling tugs are also used to supply oil platforms, tow them to location, anchor them up and, in some cases, serve as recovery and rescue vessels.Anchor handling tugs are also used to supply oil platforms, tow them to location, anchor them up and, in some cases, serve as recovery and rescue vessels.
They are fitted with winches for towing and anchor handling and have an open stern to allow the decking of anchors.They are fitted with winches for towing and anchor handling and have an open stern to allow the decking of anchors.
Freezing water
A spokeswoman for the coastguard said: "We are not really expecting to find survivors now. It would be a miracle if they had survived all night in five degrees, freezing water. It's very sad."
The coastguard confirmed that the ship had still been attached to Transocean Rather rig by an anchor chain.The coastguard confirmed that the ship had still been attached to Transocean Rather rig by an anchor chain.
Grampian Police said they would begin an investigation into the incident once the search and rescue operation was completed. A marine accident inquiry will also be carried out. Grampian Police said they would begin an investigation into the incident. A marine accident inquiry will also be carried out.
The ship, which is less than one year old, had been working in the vicinity of the Rosebank oilfield with a crew of 15. The ship had been working in the vicinity of the Rosebank oilfield.
Trond Myklebust, manager director of Bourbon Norway, said he could not speculate on what had caused the accident but confirmed the vessel was carrying out an anchor handling operation with the rig and was connected to it.Trond Myklebust, manager director of Bourbon Norway, said he could not speculate on what had caused the accident but confirmed the vessel was carrying out an anchor handling operation with the rig and was connected to it.
Do you have any experience of working in the North Sea? What is your reaction to this story?Do you have any experience of working in the North Sea? What is your reaction to this story?
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