More than 50 workers evacuated after ship crashes into North Sea oil rig sparking major emergency

OFFSHORE workers were evacuated from an oil rig after a crash involving a ship in the North Sea.

A total of 52 “non-essential personnel” on Harbour Energy’s Valaris 120 installation were airlifted from the rig on Sunday.

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Offshore workers were evacuated off an oil rig in the North Sea (STOCK IMAGE)[/caption]

The jackup rig is around 150 miles east of Aberdeen.

The workers were then flown to the city on three separate flights following the collision.

There were 128 people on the rig before the crash happened.

But the company has confirmed that everyone who was onboard the platform and the vessel is “safe and well”.

A Harbour Energy spokesperson told the BBC: “The non-essential personnel have been flown to Aberdeen on three separate flights.

“Our incident response teams have been mobilised and are in liaison with the relevant authorities.

“People are our priority, and everyone onboard the rig and the vessel is safe and well.”

Valaris 120 is a jackup rig which can lower its legs to the bottom of the sea for a more stable base over the water surface.

It is currently working in a combined operation with the Judy platform, which is involved in gas production.

Harbour Energy said further information would be made available when details have been confirmed.