Blaze reported on Scarabeo 5 drilling rig in Norwegian Sea

Plans were being made to evacuate 106 people from a drilling rig in the Norwegian Sea after a fire broke out in the engine room this evening.

Statoil said everyone on board the Scarabeo 5 had been accounted for and that efforts to tackle the blaze were ongoing.

The rig is operated by Saipem Norwegian Branch and is located on the Njord field.

Statoil said no drilling operations were under way at the time of the incident.

Statoil, which is the operator for the Njord field, said: “Personnel without emergency duties have been mustered to the lifeboat stations and preparations are being made to evacuate them by helicopter.”