Storm Babet: Coastguard airlifts workers off North Sea platform
- Published
The Stena Spey is the focus of the incident
Coastguard helicopters have airlifted 45 workers off a North Sea drilling platform after it lost anchors during Storm Babet.
Stena Drilling said four of the eight anchors detached themselves from Stena Spey due to the "severe weather".
All 89 personnel are accounted for on the rig, which is 146 miles (235km) east of Aberdeen.
A HM Coastguard spokesperson said the platform faced strong waves in the North Sea.
Stena later said non-essential personnel were transferred from the semi-sub drilling unit to neighbouring platforms and to Sumburgh on the Shetland Islands.
Two Coastguard helicopters and a search and rescue helicopter were involved in the operation.
A further 44 crew members remain on the platform, which it described as "stable".
The company added the well remains secure.
A response number has been set up for concerned relatives on 01224 455199.
Stena Spey had 89 people on board
Stena Drilling said the incident involving its semi-sub drilling started at about 06:45.
"All support services are being co-ordinated through the shore-based incident response team and every possible effort is being made to safeguard risk to personnel at the scene and resolve the situation," a company statement said.