Sunday, August 05, 2007

Crew Held After Ship Hits Gas Rig

Police are questioning seven crew members from a cargo vessel which hit an unmanned gas platform in the North Sea 40 miles off the Norfolk coast. Six men jumped into the water after the "Jork" struck the Viking Echo platform, but the Captain tried to save the ship. A helicopter and a rescue vessel were sent to the ship, which was carrying grain from Lubeck in Germany.
The Jork
Six men from Poland and the German captain are being questioned about the incident by Lincolnshire Police. The crew members and the Captain were rescued from the sea by another boat, but the "Jork", which was listing heavily, is expected to sink. ConocoPhillips, which owns the gas platform, has shut down production while any damage is assessed. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is carrying out an investigation.

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