Coastguard teams launched a major rescue operation after “very high winds” caused a drillship to break free of its moorings in Ayrshire.
HM Coastguard confirmed it received a mayday call at around 7.20pm on Tuesday when the vessel, with eight crew members on board, started to drift without power.
The Valaris DS-4 drillship, which is used to drill for oil and gas and is 751.3ft long, was eventually anchored off Hunterston.
In an update at 1pm today, the coastguard said the vessel’s engines had been restored.
The organisation also said the ship’s technical managers were working with the port authority at Hunterston to “return the ship to a place of safety”.
A spokesman for Noah Ship Management, technical managers of the DS-4, said: “The vessel remains in position in the Hunterston Channel, safely anchored and with her engines and thrusters operational, should they be required.
“A crew of eight, including a master and chief engineer are on board to work with the local authorities and Marine Coastguard Agency to prepare for the return of the vessel to the lay-up berth once the weather improves.
“The drill ship is anchored some 490-650ft off the berth. There were no injuries or pollution.
“Managers wish to thank the local authorities and the port management for their timely and professional response to this incident.”
A Valaris spokesman added: “The DS-4 will be returned to the berth when weather permits. There were no injuries and no damage resulted from this incident.”
Rescue teams were also called out to assist a second vessel, the Valaris DS8 drillship.
Four tugs were helping it to hold its position at Hunterston terminal amid worsening weather conditions.
The Girvan RNLI lifeboat, senior coastal operations officers and coastguard rescue teams from across the area remained on scene to provide support, HM Coastguard said this afternoon.
The Friends of the Firth of Clyde group has been providing regular updates on its Twitter feed while the Clyde Porpoise account posted a video.
Only some luck, some brave individuals and a tug has stopped a drill ship heading over towards the nuclear intake cooling pipe at Hunterston @FriendsClyde @FairlieCoastal pic.twitter.com/HhS5kh2rQE
— david nairn (@ClydePorpoise) February 2, 2021
Vessel tracking website Marine Traffic shows the positions of the two vessels.
Valaris DS4:
Valaris DS8, formerly Ensco DS8:
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