Three men have died on the Viking Islay standby vessel after an accident on the BP Amethyst gas field off the UK.
The vessel’s operator, Vroon Offshore Services, said the accident happened when the men were securing an anchor chain in the bow of the gas rig support vessel.
The men were named as Finlay MacFadyen, 46, from Aberdeen, Robert O’Brien, 59, from Leven in Fife, and Robert Ebertowski, 40, from Gydnia, Poland.
The 53-metre emergency response and rescue vessel was supporting the Ensco 92 drilling rig on BP’s Amethyst Field in the Southern North Sea when the accident occurred.
The Viking Islay has now returned to port in Immingham where a full investigation will be carried out by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.
Vroon said: “It is with great regret that Vroon Offshore Services confirms that the three crew members airlifted to Hull Royal Infirmary earlier this afternoon from the Viking Islay are dead. Their families have been informed and Vroon Offshore Services can now confirm their details.”
“This is a tragic incident which has shocked everyone at Vroon. Our heart-felt condolences go out to the family and friends of our colleagues and we are doing everything we can as an organisation to support them at this time.
“All three men were valued and dedicated seafarers and between them had over sixty years experience at sea.”

(Upstream Online)